I am a blue collar worker for a large company who Toyota has sold at least 200 forklifts. It is beginning to seem to me that Toyota is more nterested in selling forklifts than to worker safety.
We have a situation in our dept. where we have Toyota 8 series forklifts that have a maximum lift capacity of 5000 lbs. with side shifters lowering the capacity to 4500 lbs. We are moving tubs with a 60 inch diameter on casters that have a gross weight of about 6000 lbs..
I have pointed this out to management this this is unsafe and illegal that there response is that because we are just pushing and pulling these loads, not lifting, that Toyota says their is no problem
Not satisfied with this answer I pressed for documentation and was sent a copy of the following e-mail attributed to the local Toyota dealership.

"Don,
I discussed your situation with our training/safety guy at length. He stated that the capacity on the forklift is the lifting capacity only. It appears that you are not lifting the load, maneuvering the load without actually lifting is something not intended by design for the forklift, but we have seen many applications where this is done. I have also discussed this with Toyota product support and we were unable to find any literature pertaining to this issue."

To me this response is a cop out. I went to the local Toyota get clarification and was told by the service rep. their he wasn't sure about the situation but would look into it and get back with me. That was 3 weeks ago. I sent an email to him 1 week ago asking what he had found out with no response. It is seeming to me that with a large customer they just don't want to rock the boat.

I have also recieved the same response, or lack thereof, from OSHA. Talking with them, making promises to look into the situation then not replying to follow-up efforts.

My questions to Toyota are. Why are there forklifts only designed for lifting and not pushing or pulling? Isn't it irrelevant if I am push, pulling or lifting when OSHA specifically and only uses the term "Handling"?

It would be nice to hear from a Toyota rep.

I hope this stirs some discussion.