A 4,000 kg forklift and an order picker crossing paths in the same aisle: that is the number one risk in any warehouse. Distribution centres, e-commerce, wholesalers — from the first employee, your OHS action plan is mandatory.
The forklift-pedestrian collision is the classic serious warehouse accident. A traffic plan with marked pedestrian aisles, mirrors at intersections, speed limits, horn at crossings, high-visibility vests — coexistence is organized, not improvised.
The RSST requires every forklift operator to receive theoretical and practical training before operating. "He's been driving for years" is not training: an up-to-date attestation and a documented practical evaluation are what the inspector asks for.
An upright struck by a forklift and never reported loses part of its capacity. Regular racking inspections (CSA A344 standard), posted capacity plates, upright protectors and an impact-reporting procedure.
Repetitive picking, loads at floor level or above the shoulders, a pace set by the scanner. Placing heavy items at hip height and rotating tasks reduces back injuries more reliably than any poster.
Freezers and cold rooms call for supplied insulated clothing, warm-up breaks and job rotation. At the other extreme, a mezzanine under a steel roof in July easily passes 30 °C — thermal-stress assessment goes both ways.
A questionnaire tailored to warehousing — forklifts, racking, handling, cold zones. Auto-generated plan, PDF export ready for a CNESST inspection.
Start — free trialThere is no government-issued licence, but the RSST requires the employer to ensure every operator has received theoretical and practical training. In practice: a training attestation, an evaluation on the actual truck used, and an update whenever the equipment changes.
The CSA A344 standard calls for regular inspections plus a periodic check by a competent person. What matters to CNESST: a written procedure, an impact register, and immediately unloading any rack with a deformed upright — not a magic date.
Yes. Agency workers under your supervision are covered by your prevention obligations, including forklift training if they operate a truck. When an injury occurs, CNESST looks at who controlled the work — that is, you.
Whenever possible, yes: marked pedestrian aisles or barriers, separate doors, exclusion zones around the docks. Where physical separation is impossible, replace it with written right-of-way rules, mirrors and reduced speed — documented in the plan.