NSC NSC Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the industry-recommended minimum clearance distance pedestrians should maintain from an operating forklift?
- 1 foot
- 3 feet
- 6 feet
- 10 feet (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 10 feet
Industry best practice and NSC forklift safety programs recommend pedestrians stay at least 10 feet away from operating forklifts to allow adequate reaction and stopping distance.
Question 2: What color are pedestrian walkways typically painted in forklift operating areas?
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow (Correct answer)
- Green
Correct answer: Yellow
Yellow lines or painted zones are the industry standard for designating pedestrian walkways that separate foot traffic from forklift operating areas.
Question 3: At intersections where forklifts and pedestrians may meet, what should the forklift operator do before proceeding?
- Accelerate to clear the intersection quickly
- Slow down, sound the horn, and yield to any pedestrians present (Correct answer)
- Stop completely until a supervisor grants permission to proceed
- Only check to the left before entering the intersection
Correct answer: Slow down, sound the horn, and yield to any pedestrians present
At blind intersections, operators must reduce speed and sound the horn to alert pedestrians before slowly proceeding through the crossing.
Question 4: Which device is commonly installed at warehouse intersections to improve visibility around blind corners for both operators and pedestrians?
- Stop sign
- Traffic signal light
- Convex safety mirror (Correct answer)
- Speed bump
Correct answer: Convex safety mirror
Convex safety mirrors are mounted at blind corners and intersections to give operators and pedestrians a wide-angle view around obstructions before entering.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a blue safety light mounted on a forklift?
- To illuminate the work area at night
- To project a blue spot on the floor ahead of the forklift to alert nearby pedestrians (Correct answer)
- To signal that the forklift is traveling in reverse
- To indicate that the battery charge level is full
Correct answer: To project a blue spot on the floor ahead of the forklift to alert nearby pedestrians
A blue safety warning light projects a visible blue spot on the floor in the forklift's travel path to alert pedestrians around blind spots or corners of an approaching truck.
Question 6: When a forklift operator needs to travel in reverse, what safety precaution must they take regarding pedestrians?
- Travel at maximum speed to complete the reversing maneuver quickly
- Sound the horn, check all mirrors, and look in the direction of travel before and while reversing (Correct answer)
- Assume the path is clear because a spotter would have warned them
- Only reverse during designated non-peak hours
Correct answer: Sound the horn, check all mirrors, and look in the direction of travel before and while reversing
Before reversing, operators must sound the horn, check mirrors, and physically look in the direction of travel throughout the maneuver to ensure no pedestrians are in the path.
NSC NSC Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Management 1
What is the industry-recommended minimum clearance distance pedestrians should maintain from an operating forklift?