guess I better not cover that in the training materials any longer. Maybe it has changed since I was in the class 12 years ago.

I haven't had to train any one in about 5 or 6 years so I havent kept up with any possible changes.

Thanks for the info.

bigGlittlestar:

Your OSHA trainer is in the wrong business. He should be selling bridges.

Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF), Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks, B56.1-2005, 5 - Operating Safety Rules and Practices. 5.3. - Traveling. 5.3.8: "Ascend or descend grades slowly, and with caution. (c) On all grades the load and load-engaging means shall be tilted back, if applicable, and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface."

OSHA 1910.178, Powered Industrial Trucks, Traveling, (n)(7)(iii): On all grades the load and load engaging means shall be tilted back if applicable, and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface."

Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Safety Standard for Lift Trucks, B335-04. 4 - General Requirements. 4.9.8 - Ramps and Grades: "Operators shall ascend or descend grades slowly and with caution and shall adhere to the following requirements: (c) On all grades the load-engaging means shall be tilted back, if applicable, and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface."

Apparently our OSHA experts have looked at historical issues, like prior injuries etc. before making the suggested rules and regulations. As I was taught this by an OSHA trainer here in the U.S.

Unfortunately even the best trained operators have accidents. Thats why we train them so if and when it happens the damage is hopefully minimal.

I train forklift Instructors for RTITB & ITSSAR in the Uk, If I get a potential instructor telling me the fork tip height for travel position is to do with causing less physical damage to a pedestrians ankle or shin ??? Makes me realise just how poor basic operator training is sometimes :-(

The 8 inch rule is for the primary purpose of reducing the severity of an injury on a pedestrian. If the forks are only a few inches off of the ground and you hit a pedestrian with the fork blade. You are going to damage many small bones in the ankle and in the foot, if the blades are up 8 to 10 inches you are going to hit a more stable and simpler designed area (2 bones) in the shin or calf area. That is the primary purpose of that rule (sad that I know that huh?).

On level concrete ground and smooth paved surfaces, 4-6" should be high enough to clear most bumps and inconsistencies on the outdoor pavement. And then one may be required to elevate the forks to clear some hurdles when travelling on uneven pavement outdoors. Oddly enough though, this questionnaire was done up by a firm that only uses their lift trucks indoors, on level concrete surfaces, so I am baffled. Anyhow, I covered everything well beyond their imagination, so I need not worry.

I suppose there is not genuine consensus, or immediate knowledge applying to this so-called 8" rule, so I feel more comfortable.

Thanks everyone.

Danny

4" to 6" is not enough to clear speed bumps, or the difference in a ramps angle of assault, and would cause stopping to lift just to clear the path of travel much more often.
I guess in your case it might be a 6 inch rule....
you might get 4 inch deflection on the tip of a fork of a 10,000 capacity truck when carrying a 4'x4'x 8' stack of 2 by fours and stop suddenly.

lol

I always teach 2-3" at the heels. 4-6" at the forktips.

lol

I always teach 2-3" at the heels. 4-6" at the forktips.

when traveling, keeping the tips of the forks 8 to 10 inches off the floor, and not higher...

either that, or it has to do with why there aren't more women engineers. ;-)