Color Of Danger (1970)

foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] forklift trucks machines designed and built to move material efficiently and dependably you can color them safe equipment like this is safe the only thing that can make it otherwise is the way it's used how it's handled by the guy at the controls and you can say this for most forklift operators they're professionals they're proud of their skill on these machines proud of their ability to get the job done right they have good safety records most of them only now and then will you find the exception the one who takes chances the guy who's too busy to read his manual to learn the rules the guy who fails to follow instructions or takes a chance on the job or off he's the guy who forgets the color of danger red like blood the color that says wanted the color that warns of trouble ahead [Music] and whenever that warning is ignored disaster can strike [Applause] [Music] it can strike on the street or on the job [Music] so most professional operators heed the warning signs they look for the color of danger but they realize also that not all hazards can be marked or lighted signs can't be everywhere that danger might appear under certain conditions and so they've learned to think ahead to sense trouble before it develops in a way they see the color of danger even when it isn't there [Music] [Applause] [Music] for example ahead of this operator are a number of places that good sense would color red for danger places where the worst might happen if the operator were not alert [Music] [Applause] [Music] let's say it again a truck like this will do its job safely provided it's properly used but misuse can reduce its built-in margin of safety in many ways load a truck beyond its rated capacity and the steering is affected this may mean nothing more than a poorly negotiated turn and some expensive castings broken nobody hurt not this time but faulty steering has been known to kill people but even with no load and perfect steering the careless operator can get himself in trouble this fellow fails to lower his mass forgets he has to pass under an overhead obstruction in the form of a temporary seam line [Music] his thoughtlessness adds up to the color of danger [Music] professionals follow the basic rule always lower the mast when traveling from one point to another with or without a load keep the forks low if visibility is a problem travel in reverse and they keep in mind this principle raising a load also raises a truck's center of gravity when this happens it's time to take it easy a clumsy hand on the lift or tilt lever can start a chain reaction that leads to trouble there's nothing like a little jolt to drive a lesson home some unmarked hazards are so obvious that anyone should spot them where would you put the color of danger in this scene first of all that load is loose on the pallet and those railroad tracks will produce quite a bump at the speed he's going [Music] the best advice about crossing tracks is reduce speed and always cross them at an angle instead of head-on [Music] it's always condition red on a loading dock loose dock plates wheels not blocked slippery decks any of these can cause trouble an operator who doesn't see the color of danger before he drives into a trailer isn't likely to see it after all that it's not a good idea to depend on others to see danger for you so always check the dock plate and make sure the wheels are chocked before you begin working a truck [Music] people who take things for granted are especially apt to miss the color of danger when it flashes this machine is in the shop to have the brakes repaired but the mechanic harry swartz gets called away before he can complete the job and he forgets to put a warning tag on the machine the operator bob broward is there at 9 20. harry promised him his truck would be ready by nine so it must be ready so why wait to see harry or why for that matter take time to inspect the machine here's why [Music] he starts down an incline with no breaks there's a sharp turn at the bottom it's conditioned red all the way [Music] rob you hurt no maybe i'll take you over here and uh let you sit down for a minute no heck of a way to stop a truck a 12 000 pound truck crash lands pretty hard that's why an operational check is important especially when it's been in the shop for repairs but whether it's been in the shop or it's just the start of the shift the experienced operator makes sure his machine is ready to go he checks the hydraulic oil the clutch and the water he checks the engine oil looks at the tires and his instruments [Music] and he tests his brakes he reports a fally operation immediately he doesn't take a chance yes a professional takes pride in his machine and in the way he does his job not only knows his machine and its capabilities but he makes sure he knows the material he has to handle a real pro would never fail to take into account loosely secured containers and he'd use special care when working at this height several thousand cans is an awful mess to clean up these machines will move tremendous amounts of material but there's one thing they're not designed to do they're not meant to carry passengers if you want to really see the color of danger just offer some of your buddies a ride on your truck they'll remember your kindness for a long time here's another way to be remembered and not fondly park your truck and leave the forks raised after all how can anyone get hurt by a machine that's standing still [Music] this is a great way to cool a beautiful friendship of course there are times when it's a good idea to cool it emotional upsets can turn careful people into real daredevils take the case of joe dexter a forklift operator on his way to work there's a stop sign right here but you see you stopped 10 feet forward coordinate your foot with your eyes evidently i don't know what's the matter i'll press your luck partner yeah thanks joe is still burned up when he gets to the plant i see you kind of late this morning all right now don't you start it on me too i wonder what's happening he's too angry to use his head now normally joe wouldn't think of traveling with his forks raised he knows the extra weight of mass carriage and forks on his truck combined with too much speed can spell trouble but he's sore and in this state of mind he can't see the color of danger so cool it before you start to drive another way to cool it but not particularly recommended you're working inside a warehouse on a dry surface there's plenty of traction for turning and breaking but suppose you forget for a moment the possibility that the dock outside may be wet and slippery on the way out you pick up too much speed so when you hit the brakes [Applause] where traction may be a problem reduce your speed or make sure you can swim [Music] of course an