Which Is Safer: Electric Forklifts or Manual Forklifts?

I. Safety Characteristics of Electric Forklifts

Advantages

• Equipped with active safety devices: Most electric forklifts are fitted with speed limiters, anti-rollover stability systems, and emergency stop buttons. Some high-end models also come with auxiliary functions such as reverse cameras and radar warnings, which can proactively avoid risks like collisions and overspeeding.
• Higher operational stability: Controlled by electric motors and hydraulic systems, electric forklifts ensure smooth lifting, lowering, and movement of goods. This minimizes the risk of goods shaking or falling due to human operational errors, making them safer especially when handling heavy loads or stacking at high heights.
• Reduced physical exertion for operators: No manual pushing, pulling, or lifting is required. Operators are less likely to suffer from distraction caused by fatigue, thereby lowering the risk of operational errors (such as slipping hands or collisions) due to physical exhaustion.

Risk Points

• Potential electrical safety hazards: Improper battery maintenance (e.g., leakage, short circuit) or non-compliant charging environments (e.g., proximity to fire sources) may lead to electric shock or fire risks. When used in rainy or humid conditions, additional attention must be paid to insulation protection.
• Higher requirements for operational skills: Operators need to be familiar with the operating logic of the motor and hydraulic system. Misoperations (such as sudden steering or emergency braking) may cause the forklift to roll over due to inertia, with the risk increasing especially when the forklift is moving at high speed without a load.

II. Safety Characteristics of Manual Forklifts

Advantages

• Simple structure with fewer risk points: Without complex components like motors and batteries, manual forklifts have no risks of electrical failures or mechanical out-of-control. In daily use, only the integrity of mechanical parts (e.g., wheels, hydraulic rods) needs to be checked.
• Low operational threshold and easy control: Operated directly by human force, manual forklifts have intuitive actions (e.g., manual lever pressing for lifting, pushing/pulling for movement). Novices can master the operation in a short time, and there are fewer errors caused by "complex operational logic".

Risk Points

• Dependence on human force, leading to injury risks from errors: Manual lever pressing is required to lift goods; uneven force application may cause goods to tilt. During pushing or pulling, if uneven ground or obstacles are encountered, it is difficult for human force to quickly control the direction, which may easily result in collisions or goods slipping, leading to injuries such as crushing or bumping.
• Lack of protection and no emergency braking: Manual forklifts have almost no active safety devices. When emergencies occur (e.g., overweight goods tipping over), operators can only rely on manual emergency evasion—there is no way to achieve rapid braking through the equipment, resulting in a shorter "response time" for risk handling.

III. Key Safety-Influencing Factors (Core Determinants of Safety for Both Types)

• Operating standards: Whether operators hold valid certificates (specialized training is required for electric forklift operators) and comply with rules such as "no overloading, no overspeeding, and sounding the horn when turning" is crucial for preventing accidents.
• Equipment maintenance: For electric forklifts, regular inspections of the battery and braking system are necessary; for manual forklifts, inspections of wheel conditions and hydraulic rod tightness are required. Aging parts will directly increase safety risks.
• Scenario adaptation: Using manual forklifts in narrow passages or humid environments, or using them for handling heavy loads or high-height stacking, is inherently a "scenario mismatch" and will amplify potential safety hazards.