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DISCUSSION FORUMS : Forkliftaction.communicate
Forum: Safety, training & legislation
Discussion:  jump or stay on reach truck
Number of messages: 38
Page: [1] 2
START MESSAGE:
paddyB
Queensland, Australia

 		Hello,
Can anyone tell me officially if an operator is to stay on a reach truck if it starts to overturn?
i know it is recommendated to stay on a counterbalance truck, but is it the same procedure for reach trucks??

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In 20 years time people will regret what they didn't do rather then what then did.

Posted 25 Jun 2009 09:51 AM Reply  Report this message
REPLIES: Sort replies by
finn_r
New South Wales, Australia

 		yes its the same.((for container reach stackers)
do you think you get a clean getaway then sure.
i don,t think there is time (how big is your reach truck?)
legally the operator should stay seatbelted up in case it goes bad and he /she gets hurt.


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safety is everything and everyone goes home again today.

Modified 26 Jun 2009 08:10 AM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		finn r,

Not certain what type of reach unit you maybe refering to.  But most reach unit (carriage pantograph design not mast reach type) are not fitted with seat belts.  The operator merely stands in the compartment and hold on to the tiller and hydraulic control handle or lever(s).  At one time US manufacturers offered a optional door enclosure over the operators entry opening to keep the operator retained inside but because of issues that the operator could not easily escape when the unit over turned many if not all discountinued this option.

I always was advised that on stand-up units (reach type not counterbalanced) it is best for the operator to step out in cas of turn over as most units reach unti will turn over sideways

It would be interesting to here from someone from Crown, Raymond (pantograph reach) and Nichiyu (mast reach manufactuer) on this matter.

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Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 25 Jun 2009 11:02 PM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		finn r,

Not certain what type of reach unit you maybe refering to.  But most reach unit (carriage pantograph design not mast reach type) are not fitted with seat belts.  The operator merely stands in the compartment and hold on to the tiller and hydraulic control handle or lever(s).  At one time US manufacturers offered a optional door enclosure over the operators entry opening to keep the operator retained inside but because of issues that the operator could not easily escape when the unit over turned many if not all discountinued this option.

I always was advised that on stand-up units (reach type not counterbalanced) it is best for the operator to step out in cas of turn over as most units reach unti will turn over sideways

It would be interesting to here from someone from Crown, Raymond (pantograph reach) and Nichiyu (mast reach manufactuer) on this matter.

-------------------------
Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 25 Jun 2009 11:02 PM Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		On stand up trucks, I teach my participants to step out.  Sit-downs, they stay in buckled.

That is why they do not put doors on stand-ups, counterbalance or reach, so the operator may quickly escape out of the unit.  I once viewed a film by Clark, Better Safe Than Sorry, where they strongly urge the operator to step out.

Only makes sense!

Posted 26 Jun 2009 12:19 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		dan m,

I have seen mast reach trucks where the operator is seated & fitted with a lap belt.  I know Crown has an a pantograph reach unit where the operator can be seated -not certain if they have lap belts also.  What to do?

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Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 27 Jun 2009 03:48 AM Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		I have had the good fortune of operating this Crown Reach Truck with a seat.  No seat belt tho', and it IS quite easy to step off in case of a tipover.  

The BT's have the same configuration as well.  All I have ever come across are the older ones and they have no seat belts either.  Again, it is quite fast and easy to jump out.

However, the sit-down is not as easy as one must clear the steering wheel, then turn sideways, and either slip or push oneself out, and in that time, the truck has indeed tipped, trapping the poor operator between the truck and the ground.

Much easier in the sit-down reach trucks.  They are sitting sideways.  The truck is not going to tip backwards unless they are falling off a loading dock backwards.

Modified 27 Jun 2009 03:59 AM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
edward_t
North Carolina, United States

 		Hey Dan, I have seen where a reach truck was traveling rather fast, in the forks first direction,  while raising and when the carriage struck an overhead crane, the truck flipped backwards, I was told the operator lost a leg.
(we aren't talking about "proper operation".  we are discussing -emergency- egress of stand up operated narrow aisle equipment).
The forklift, once back upright, a new battery installed, washed down the spilled acid, and lost almost no hydraulic oil, worked well for many more years, never complained of guilt.

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webhome = forktechs.com/mailman/listinfo/techs_word

Modified 27 Jun 2009 07:56 AM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		Well, you are right.  Improper operation, because first of all, never travel while operating the hydraulics, and secondly, maintain the forks as low to the ground as possible.

Using an analogy, we have air bags in our cars with seatbelts, and if we decide to drive in oncoming traffic at 70MPH and hit an 18 wheeler head on, I guess the protection equipment won't save our lives.

So, if someone is incorrectly trained, or ignores proper operating procedures, and drives with the forks elevated, and hits an overhead crane with the mast, what can you do?

Unfortunately, he paid the price.

Posted 27 Jun 2009 08:04 AM Reply  Report this message
edward_t
North Carolina, United States

 		I think that what it really boils down to, is that the reason we have operator restraint systems is that our instinct to jump from a rollover is what gets us killed in a sit-down, as much as the rolling over, and what we are really discussing is leaving the vehicle when tipping -sideways-, far more than front or backwards motion.

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webhome = forktechs.com/mailman/listinfo/techs_word

Posted 27 Jun 2009 08:29 AM Reply  Report this message
finn_r
New South Wales, Australia

 		johnr j .
sorry mate, different terminology.
when someone suggests a reach truck i,think big ,like a 75tonne machine.(you cannot really jump of it as i,d break a leg)
a reach forklift has me thinking of something you can stand up in.
now that we all talk about the same type of machine.
the big modern machines have a cutout fitted.(to prevent over reaching&tipping over)
i think this technology could/should also be used on  reach forklifts.
regards finn


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safety is everything and everyone goes home again today.

Posted 27 Jun 2009 08:36 AM Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		The reach truck, obviously, is where one exits out the back, and not off to the side.  If the truck tips over on its side, and the operator jumps, sayanora!  Out the back, the issue is not as grave, as long as the truck does not tip backwards, which it shouldn't, unless the operator does something unorthodox.

Since the vast majority of stand-ups, either reach or counterbalance, do not offer seating options, my preference would be to jump out, but I am smart enough not to get myself in those precarious situations.

In the meantime, no reach trucks, as far as I know, I am a trainer and not an OEM affiliate, have no seatbelts so the operator can jump to safety, provided the truck does not fall back.

Posted 27 Jun 2009 08:43 AM Reply  Report this message
edward_t
North Carolina, United States

 		he said;
"unless the operator does something unorthodox" ....
which it shouldn't...
tip over, in _any_ direction.

you know they say that if you build something "id10t proof", they build a better id10t, right away.
I have seen reach trucks fitted with a bar on hinges and a hasp to prevent operators from coming out of place.


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webhome = forktechs.com/mailman/listinfo/techs_word

Modified 27 Jun 2009 10:18 AM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		Well, if an operator is travelling while raising the forks, and he should know better, and his mast is therefore high enough to hit an overhead crane, which it wouldn't if the forks were lowered, then the incident wouldn't have occurred, right?

Posted 27 Jun 2009 10:34 AM Reply  Report this message
edward_t
North Carolina, United States

 		yep, and the same could be said of any powered industrial truck tip over, if the operator was following the directions given during a proper training class, the incident (what ever it was) would not ever have happened.
and if the operator could not follow the directions given in a proper training class for the unit, then that person should not be anywhere near the heavy machinery that a powered industrial truck is.

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webhome = forktechs.com/mailman/listinfo/techs_word

Posted 27 Jun 2009 08:45 PM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		Paddy B,

What type of reach truck are you talking about ----
1.) The little baby ones used in a warehouse or
2.) finn r  was refering to (container handling, telescoping reach types) the giant sized  (PaPa Bear)ones in his response.

Most of this thread seems to be discussing the warehouse type, electric reach.

Let's see if this train is on the right track.

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Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 28 Jun 2009 03:13 AM Reply  Report this message
paddyB
Queensland, Australia

 		Thanks Guys,
The reach truck is a 2 tonne narrow aisle truck with the option of either sitting down or standing up. It is not fitted with a seat belt. It is used in a cold store facility where ice on the floor can be encountered.


Posted 29 Jun 2009 07:09 AM Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		Okay.  So it is an indoor warehouse 4500 lb max narrow aisle reach, and what I suggested, still stands.

Posted 29 Jun 2009 07:13 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		dan m

I understand you have not seen a narrow aisle piece of equipment meaning reach type unit with lap belts.  But I have and it was a rear entry unit and the operator only could sit down to operate the machine.  It was a moving mast unit (some call mast reach).  And the unit was a 2002 model.  As I mentioned earlier, I was always taught  that on narrow aisle units in case of tip over the operator  should step out.

With  the conventional reach truck there are 3 different operating positions - operator facing full foward, 45 degree side stance and full side stance (operator facing 90 degrees to the left of full forward.  Guess you might call units w/reverse steer for operations where driving in reverse are required a 4th position.  Some positions are easier and faster to step out of the compartment.  This is why I invited comments from  people like, Crown, Raymond, Nichiyu represetnatives as to what their position is

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Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 29 Jun 2009 11:56 AM Reply  Report this message
dan_m
Ontario, Canada 		I anxious to hear what they have to say.

Posted 29 Jun 2009 12:15 AM Reply  Report this message
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