If the lift truck operator's view is obstructed, the lift truck may collide with people, other lift trucks and fixtures. If the load is large or irregularly shaped, it may obscure visibility.

Difficult lighting conditions increase the risk of accidents. The lift truck operator may temporarily have limited visibility, for example when lighting conditions change rapidly. This can happen when the lift truck operator drives in and out of a dark industrial building and into an outdoor yard with bright sunlight. Such situations pose an increased risk of accidents because it takes time for the eyes to adapt. The operator may then fail to notice a colleague walking in the travel path or a pallet someone has temporarily placed in the travel path.

When the lift truck operator is walking or operating from a standing platform, it is common for the operator to become trapped between the lift truck and objects or walls, especially in tight spaces.

Collisions between lift trucks and objects are also common and can have dramatic consequences. A frequent accident occurs when the lift truck operator forgets to lower the mast when driving through a gate or doorway. The raised mast then catches on the top edge of the gate or door and the lift truck may tip over, taking the operator with it.

The lift truck operator or people around the lift truck are sometimes injured by goods falling from the  forks or from pallet racks. When handling loads, accidents occur when the lift truck operator or a helper, for example, tries to correct a tipping load.

The risk of falls is high when the lift truck is used incorrectly, for example when lifting people directly on a pallet or on the forks. There is also a high risk of the operator tripping and falling if they jump off the lift truck while it is still moving.

Lift trucks are often used on loading docks to load and unload vehicles or to stack up goods. There is then a risk of the lift truck falling from the loading bay. This can cause serious injury, for example if the operator is crushed between the lift truck's overhead guard and the ground.

Protection against injury from falls

Operating lift trucks can cause repetitive strain injuries, as the work is often repetitive. This can lead to back, neck and shoulder problems, as the body is stressed in the same way for a long time.

Lift truck operators often work in twisted postures and suffer repetitive strain injuries from twisting their necks frequently and in an unfavourable way. For example, the operator often turns their neck to get good visibility when placing goods at height or when manoeuvring the lift truck with precision. The operator's eyes are fixed on the direction in which they are travelling, while the rest of the body must be aligned with the operator's seat and the controls. Some tasks, such as loading and unloading in racks, require the driver operator to constantly move their head into extreme positions, forward and backward, rotated or with a combination of these movements.

The situation worsens when it is narrow, which is often the case when you want to use industrial premises and terminals efficiently. This often results in less space for lift truck traffic and higher pallet racks, while transport occurs in all directions of the lift truck.

The operator can be exposed to whole-body vibrations via the seat or feet, as well as vibrations affecting the arms and hands.

A moving lift truck always vibrates and this vibration is transmitted to the operator to varying degrees. Several factors affect how much the operator is exposed to vibration and what risks the vibrations pose, including the frequency of the vibrations, how long and how often the operator is exposed to the vibrations, the type of damping on the lift truck and which part of the body is exposed. External factors also play a role, such as cold, which can worsen the harmful effects of vibration.

If the hands are exposed to too much vibration, this can lead to vascular and nerve damage. Vascular damage causes poor circulation and results in so-called white fingers, while nerve damage causes impaired sensation and motor skills, among other things. In the case of whole-body vibration, the vibrations are transmitted via the chair or feet, which can lead to fatigue and impaired motor skills, among other things.

Working with a lift truck can involve a lot of stress, for example when loading and unloading vehicles or when there are high production demands. A stressful work environment increases the risk of accidents and musculoskeletal disorders. In the long run, a high work pace that does not allow sufficient time for recovery can therefore lead to reduced rather than increased efficiency.