Hi Dan

Have no probelm with your scenario - reality is however that in my experience most forklift drivers:
1. Very often have no idea of the weight of the load because the pallet or other item has no weight marked on it;
2. Almost invariably have no weight gauge on their forklift so have no way of determining the load directly;
3. Very often will not check the load distance for the load they are lifting unless it is extreme - that is if the load distance was 30" or 750 mm they would not even check;
4. Often don't even make sure the load is hard up against the forkface; and
5. Virtually never consider the vertical rated distance because they do not know it is an issue.

Basically they try the load and depending on the degree to which the steer tyre flex they decide they can lift the load or not - and usually they are completely unaware that at the point of steer wheel lift off the forklift is normally overloaded by around 40%.

And that is what most managers allow - completely unaware of how much they are exposed to risk.