The laws and forklift industry stress that the hydraulics should not be used unless the forklift is stationery, and whether that means that the truck is in neutral or the parking brake applied, or both, is up to the trainer, company or whomever.

Although I would prefer to see both engaged, I know that in reality, it is not going to happen. Operators do not want to engage in increased effort to apply the parking brake when utilizing the control levers, and I will not be there to babysit them the days following.

I do insist that at least they use their fingers on their left hand to shift the tranny into neutral pior to operating the control levers, especially when they are being tested by me, or lose posnts in the process.

At least that partially immobilizes the forklift, and then I trust that they will continue this practice long after I leave.

Thanks all for your advice. I've fought damned hard to improve the quality of our training in the mistaken view that it would push operating standards up. I tend to get a little bristly when those standards are threatened as enforcement of the (outwith my remit) is the only way we're going to improve performance not side stepping them every time we get some driver resistance. I understand that standards are a little different stateside and I have considerable respect for our GM. We binned our man baskets in favour of self propelled MEWPS. I have consulted both RTITB head of standards and my original training provider. The answer was the same on both occasions: Apply handbrake/select neutral prior to and during the use of hydraulics. This secures the vehicle at a time when the centre of gravity may be elevated and allows the operator to focus on the hydraulic function. It also prevents inadvertant movement of the vehicle. The point made about positioning of the load is a fair one but can be mitigated by accuracy and geometry of positioning and precision in manoeuvre. Thanks once again gents.

I would recommend two things;
1) If there was an accident in the UK, the HSE would get involved, they would be the people who would make the investigation. You can contact them for advise, they do have people who specialize in the warehousing sector.
2) I'm guessing as a trainer, you must keep your certification up to date every three years or so by using an external company to train the trainer. I would recommend calling them for advise.
If I were you, I would point out, you do not make the rules, you only follow the safe working practices of the training provided to you by the company you work for and if they feel you are unfair, they should consult an external RTITB representative for a second opinion.

johnr j:

The neutral position and the parking brake are used only during the major lifting/lowering stages and not during the minor lifting/lowering rack positioning/extracting stages.

The goal is to ensure the forklift remain free from movement (accidental or intentional) during major changes in load elevations. It limits additional dynamic forces being imposed that could affect forklift stability.

I'm not questioning what you say but I will offer this question "How does one position a load on a rack shelf or remove cubed loads off a palletizer with the parking brake set & drive system in neutral."

The practice of placing the transmission in neutral and setting the parking brake before lifting a load is also accepted as best practice and encouraged in the United States. It is not uncommon to encounter such directives in the operating/safety manuals of forklift manufacturers.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) in the U.S. has put such directives in their Construction Safety Manuals for Operating and Maintenance Personnel (Rough Terrain Forklift and Truck-Mounted Forklift) which they developed for their members.

Lifting and Placing the Load

Place the forklift in neutral.
Set the parking brake.

Thanks for the corrections. I had also just assumed that the operator manuals for English speaking countries would all be the same, but if your operators manuals say to use the hand brake every time you use the hydraulic functions, then that should be the "last word" and from the manufacturer, even though it seems as if that would be rather time consuming. I am sure the manufacturers would rather "err on the side of caution".
We [in the USA] have a standard (ANSI/ASME/ITSDF b56) for man up baskets as far as how they have to be built and used

Hi Ed

You have made a few incorrect assumptions here.

Over this side of the pond using the handbrake and selecting neutral is accepted as best practice and encouraged.

The issue of men in baskets is highly contentious and in some countries absolutely illegal. This is in-spite of the fact that it can be legal to make and sell baskets, ( Just illegal to use them ) Don't go there !!!!!!

Practices vary around the world and it it unwise for a local trainer to be pressurized into accepting what a customer wants if it does not conform to local compliance.

What I think the OP was speaking of, is an interpretation of the requirement that the truck not be moving during lift and tilting operations, which hopefully we all teach and do, as it changes the center of gravity while moving (not safe). This has, for a long time, been understood in the UK that [during the -testing- phase of operator training] means to put the parking brake on and truck in neutral while raising and lowering. My understanding/ assumption was that this is because the trainee is not, at that point, considered an authorized operator, and added safety measures are called for, for the safety of both the operator and the instructor.
In my not so humble opinion, as a continued operation, this would be incorrect, as the park brake linkage is not designed for that many operations a day, and would result an an early failure of the linkage.
As far as mrfixit's remark, I am sure he also has an operator that is aware there is NO lateral motion (forward, back, or side shift) and only up and down motion while he is in that basket, and that the operator knows that under no circumstances should he leave the operators position at any time a person is in the basket. AND that if there is any time a hard hat or bump cap is called for, this is it, as the numbers I have seen and my own experiences relating to falling object hitting the operator show that more smaller objects fall through the OHG and hit the operator while using a man up basket than any other time. Most manufacturers suggest always wearing a bump cap or hard hat anytime when operating a truck, if you read the operator's manuals.
I don't think anywhere other than the UK uses the requirement of parking brake to insure no lateral motion while lifting, even in testing, but if there is, I would like to hear about it.
I think your "American site boss" has miss interpreted the British requirements slightly, and maybe should be offered the operators manual of the unit, to see what the manufacturer says is correct operational procedures.

I insist on the "set hand brake and unit in neutral" before being lifted in the man basket thing that fits on the forks.

TC17,
I totally agree with your comments.
The only time I can recall "the set the hand brake & put the unit in neutral before operating hydraulic functions, etc. procedure" is when one is doing service/maintenance work on the unit or when checking out the unit for daily inspections (which really don't happen that often).

@ ewan...if this is regulation or requirement that you must follow, and is in writing. by all means stick to your training requirements. Show where it is in writing that these procedures must be followed....but remember...you as an trainer must train to the best of your ability, your instincts and your written rules and regulations........and keep working hard.
You must train per the requirements and regulations, you cannot go out there and babysit people, but as long as you are doing the training as required by rules and regulations you are doing the right thing.
Here in America, unless I have missed something over the years, we are not required to put our lift trucks into nuetral and apply the hand brakes before using the hydraulics, I am so sure that we would also catch all kinds of flack from supervisors on this matter.....good luck and fight the hard fight... :)

You must stay with what you know is correct.

We all have to resist pressure from Axxxxxxs who should know better but don't.

If you give in and something goes wrong then we all know were the finger will be pointed to.

Keep the faith !!