In modern industrial storage and manufacturing sites, overhead conveyors and overhead cranes are widely deployed to improve material handling efficiency, while electric forklifts are core equipment for ground material transportation. The overlapping of operation zones between different types of equipment may easily trigger accidental collisions, falling object strikes and other safety hazards if operators do not follow standardized protocols, which will threaten personal safety and cause unnecessary facility losses.

Before starting any electric forklift operation in zones with overhead conveyors and cranes, operators shall complete full pre-operation risk checks first. They need to confirm the lowest clearance height of overhead conveyor frames, track positions of cranes, and mark out no-go zones below crane hoisting paths. Operators shall also verify that all overhead safety warning signs are clearly visible, and confirm effective communication channels with overhead crane operators and conveyor patrol staff to avoid misoperation caused by information asymmetry.

During the driving and handling process, forklift operators shall keep the forks at 10 to 15 centimeters above the ground when traveling, and avoid lifting loads too high to prevent scraping the conveyor structure or the conveyed materials. They shall keep at least 1.5 meters of lateral safe distance from the overhead crane rail, maintain a stable and low driving speed, and never make sharp turns or sudden acceleration without checking the upper surrounding conditions. Operators are forbidden to stay for a long time under the conveyor’s material dropping port, and shall never pass under a hanging crane load even if the load looks stable. When the crane is executing heavy hoisting tasks, forklift drivers shall actively move the vehicle to the pre-marked safe avoidance area and wait for the hoisting process to finish before entering the operation zone.

Regular targeted safety training for forklift operators can help deepen their awareness of potential hidden risks around overhead facilities, and form good operation habits to reduce safety accident rates effectively. Daily on-site patrols can also correct irregular operation behaviors in time, and build a stable, safe working environment for all on-site personnel.