Carrying pallets 2 high is high risk. Rated distance is also measured vertically so if centre of mass is greater than the rated distance the forklift capacity has to be down rated. Then there are the issues of the driver's view being obstructed, risk of items falling backwards onto operator if load above load guard; risk of items being unstable on forks and falling forward under braking or sideways in turns; fact that the 2nd pallet load is likely to hit a persons upper torso/ head with much increased risk of death or disabling injury...

Hi John thanks for your reply.

First of all you have assumed that a double stacked pallet is going to be higher than any normal load. The pallet with load measures 600mm vertically x 2 is total 1200mm (example). Drivers view will not be obstructed and if view was obstructed just like any other normal load would travel in reverse. The items would never fall on to the operator as this double stacked pallet is being moved from a ground level position to another ground level position also the mast/ load guard would stop any products falling onto the operator.

The only positive feedback I can see is the forks need to be in the pallet.

OK so Health and Safety as Reasonable Practicable.

Some times you have to take your head out of the bible and look at Reasonable Practicable solutions sorry guys.

I assume that some Instructors never actually work in the
operation and live in the perfect world.

A scenario,,,
You have 100 pallets with a load on each to carry gross weight of each load is 250kg, lifting capacity of truck is 2000kg From corner to corner the warehouse is half a mile long. The height of both pallets together are the height of any other standard load. The boxes are solid. The floor surface is smooth. The load on each pallet is wrapped although both pallets are not wrapped together. You have 100 pallets to move so a potential 100 journeys or 50 carrying double stacked pallets.

As I mentioned above a task that may not relate to any training being given so as i see it a risk assessment to be carried out and familiarisation training to be delivered on this procedure.

It also looks like nothing is written about this procedure so I guess we all have our own view on this...