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.