Unfortunately the people who do the buying seem to be only concerned with cost !!
Just had an interesting development... I have managed to find a statement in amongst the manufacturers literature which was supplied with a similar model rider operated pallet truck and it clearly states in black & white that "the operator must keep his head & limbs inside the confines of the machine at all times". This literature is for a similar machine that is used for the same operation in the same building and it arrived with a brand new truck. Surely my colleagues and I are correct in insisting that the manufacturers issue a statement which clarifies this situation, especially in light of this literature.