Hi,
Before I start, I'm based in the UK.
I'm currently having an argument with my health and safety department over the use of work platforms which we use to lift people up on fork lift trucks. We have just replaced two of our platforms (cages), and I am getting them suitably labelled, and trying to put together a method statement for their correct use based on the HSE guidlines (document pm28). We currently disagree on the correct use of the reach on our reach trucks. I am stating that the truck should be used with reach extended when using the cage, but they are unsure as it goes against normal driving practice.
The HSE guidlines state explicitly that reach should NOT be used while LIFTING a platform, but doesn't state wether it should be extended or retracted beforehand. My argument is that the possible problems with retracting forks outweigh the issue of the slight instability of the truck being used with forks extended. If the truck is driven correctly with the cage fitted, then it will not be an issue, you would not drive a truck with a cage in the same manner as a truck with a pallet of stock.
Retracting the forks with a cage on board could possibly result in the cage being caught on the fork arms, something which does happen regularly, and has caused both our new cages to be damaged.. That's not an issue when the cage is being fitted, as adjustment can be made with sideshift, but it could move slightly on the forks while in use, and then catch when lowered, and TECHNICALLY, you are not allowed to use reach or side shift to correct it. The HSE actually say that tilt and sideshift should be locked out of use while lifting, and it could be argued that the same applies to reach, although it doesn't explicitly say so.
We also have several 'narrow guage' trucks where the cage would simply not fit between the fork arms, so could not be used with the reach retracted. We could state that these trucks are not to be used with the cage, but it just seems easier to me to have one rule for all trucks on site.
What are others thoughts on this.
K.
Showing items 21 - 25 of 25 results.
Regarding the control of reach and lift / or any other function: the original action at the older trucks was made trough a lever. So it is normal and safe to use each function separately. More, the power used is the same hydraulic pump, so it is not correct or safe to use it on separate hydraulic functions at the same time, because you will not have the same precision level. The new minilevers are only to increase ergonomy, not for using more then one function in the same time.
Regarding the cage, from the floor it will be lifted with the reach extended in order to allow the operator to aply the safety pin in the back part of the fork. After lifting 200 mm the reach can be retreat and the lifting and all the operations to be made safely. The instabillity up there is big if the height is over 6 m, so the mast should be retreat... The operations to put the cage back on the ground should be exactly on reverse as described.
jere v:
OSHA no longer requires controls in the forklift work basket. They apparently misinterpreted ANSI/ASME standards and withdrew these requirements.
On June 2, 2003 a technical amendment was published in the Federal Register that removed all of paragraph 1910.178(m)(12), including its subordinate paragraphs 1910.178(m)(12)(i) through 1910.178(m)(12)(iii).]
I can't find a requirement for forklift basket controls in your Cal/Osha standard. Cal/Osha standards take precedent over OSHA standards in California.
We have the almost the same issue. I said "almost" because it is not about whether to extend or retract the forks with a cage on it. Rather it is the issue of whether we are allowed to allow the lifting of a personnel on the forks in the first place, even with a cage.
This is after a couple of incidences of people falling off the forks and even from the cage.
So, we have build a platform for our warehouse staff to use to reach the higher points of the cargo being built-up. The platform can be forked by a forklift to move from place to place, but must sit on the floor when in use.
As someone that has worked around and driven lift trucks for many years, I personally would not get up in one of those maintenance cage attachments unless I had a high level of confidence in the lift truck operator (I have encountered very few operators that would instill that level of confidence in me). I see those devices as useful in very small operations that rarely have a need to use them.
Since you stated you have two cages and have recently replaced both, I'm thinking that your more frequent needs would be better met by getting a piece of equipment designed specifically for your tasks (a scissors lift or some type of aerial boom lift). Not only are these types of equipment safer, they are also a more efficient (get the task done with less labor) means of executing maintenance tasks.
As to your specific question about reach trucks, a reach truck is more stable with the load retracted (and conversely less stable when the load is extended). That is why you should always have the load retracted when the truck is in motion. "Safe" is a relative term, and while it may be considered "safe" to extend the reach when handling non-human loads (the purpose of the reach truck); a human load tends to change the context for defining "safe". In this new context, playing it safe would suggest not using the reach functionality of a reach truck when using maintenance cage attachments.
Kevin:
When using an elevated safety platform that has been "specifically designed" for that use on a reach truck, the reach should remain in the retracted or stored position, never with the reach extended out.
A safety platform should not catch on the fork arms; I don't completely follow this comment.
You are correct, reach or sideshift should not be used once the person is in the platform. The reach is retracted and sideshift placed in the centre before the person gets in the platform.
Tilt: the forks are made level before the person gets in and the tilt is no longer to be used while the person is in the platform.
Cage won't fit between the fork arms. I presume you're speaking about the straddle legs. In this case, if the platform is on the floor, the driver extends the reach, inserting the forks into the fork slots, raises the platform higher than the straddle legs and then retracts the forks/platform to the stored position. Then the person can get in the platform.
Hope these opinions might be of some assistance to you.
Garry
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