Night Shifts & Forklifts: Staying Safe When the Sun Goes Down

 

Night Shifts & Forklifts: Staying Safe When the Sun Goes Down

By Brian Ford | Safety 1st Forklift Training, Ballymena

As we all know here in Ballymena, the days can get short, and for many industries, the work doesn’t stop just because the sun has gone down. Whether you are working a late shift in a warehouse or loading trucks in an outdoor yard under floodlights, operating a forklift at night brings a whole new set of challenges.

At Safety 1st Forklift Training, we always emphasise that visibility is your best friend. When you’re driving in low-light conditions, your reaction times need to be sharper, and your awareness needs to be higher.

Here are my top tips for staying safe during those night shifts:

1. Check Your Lights (Before You Start)

It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common issue we see. Before you even turn the key, do your pre-shift check. Are your front work lights functioning? Do your brake lights and indicators work? If you are working outdoors, are the strobe/beacon lights flashing correctly? If you can’t see, and others can’t see you, the machine shouldn’t move.

2. Let Your Eyes Adjust

Moving from a brightly lit canteen or office into a dimly lit yard can temporarily blind you. Give your eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness before you start operating heavy machinery.

3. Watch Out for Shadows

Artificial lighting—whether it’s warehouse LEDs or outdoor floodlights—creates shadows. These shadows can hide tripping hazards, uneven ground, or even pedestrians. If you aren’t 100% sure what is in that dark patch of the yard, stop and check.

4. Slow Down

Depth perception is harder at night. Judging the distance of the racking or the edge of a lorry trailer becomes much trickier in low light. Take your speed down a notch. It’s better to take an extra 10 seconds to place a load safely than to rush and cause an accident.

5. Be Seen

This applies to everyone, not just the drivers. If you are on the ground during a night shift, High-Vis is non-negotiable. Drivers are relying on that reflective strip to spot you in the dark.

Stay safe out there, and remember: if you need a refresher on safety protocols or training for your team, we cover the whole island—from Belfast to Cork.

Need training? Contact Brian at Safety 1st Forklift Training today.