See new thread for SAS comments, so we don't highjack this one's original intent.

I would like to know if rollovers caused by turning on ramps, running off a dock etc are included in the numbers. If so SAS or any other system is not going to do a thing. Any of have any data on how rollover was caused?

Any idea what percentage of the total lift trucks in the current US fleets were actually Toyota's equipped with SAS? I know some trucks are 20 years old, so the number of Toyota's with SAS may be quite small, as compared to the total number of trucks in service. I'm not saying the system isn't beneficial, but just a caution to consider all variables when reading the stats.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 118 fatalities resulted from the overturn of a lift truck between the years 1999 and 2003 and none of them were a Toyota equipped with SAS (System of Active Stability).

Chris,

I am an attorney actively engaged in the defense of forklift manufacturers, distributors and dealers. I routinely deal with the issues presented and I have defended a number of industry leaders in numerous serious personal injury matters where product defect is alleged as a proximate cause of the accident and injury. As you undoubtedly know, forklift operator training is mandatory in the USA (OSHA Sec. 1910.178). Notwithstandng this, many employees actively disregard their training and, candidly, some employers are lax in enforcement of OSHA requirements and safe workplace practices. Most recently, I obtained a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of TCM and its distributor and dealer where a man suffered a near traumatic amputation of his leg because he did not, I proved, engage the park brake. There was nothing wrong with the lift truck; simply, he did not follow his training and good and accepted practice.

Would you be so kind as to send me the same brochure?


My emails is listed in my profile.

Regards

Actually, According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there have been 118 fatalities from the overturn of lift trucks from 1999 to 2003, averaging 23 deaths per year. None of these fatalites involved Toyota lift trucks equipped with SAS.

And I would say that Toyota represents 30% of all forklift sold.

If 23 deaths a year happen because of forklift overturn, and Toyota has never had a fatality with an overturn with a truck equipped with SAS, then that must mean the SAS is doing it's job. It's ACTIVE STABILITY and not PASSIVE STABILITY like everyother manufacturer is turning out.

To The Toyota Guy -

Last time I checked OSHA records which stated 80%+ of all reported accidents involving an industrial fork lift involve the feet or legs.

The SAS system certain has it's merits. Toyota represents less than 70% of all trucks sold.

Certainly any one death is one too many, but the OSHA report I read stated that less than 100 deaths/annum involved an industrial lift truck.

1.Country = New Zealand
2.Yes laws and Regulations For Required Training

3.(Code of Practice for Opertators and Instructors of Powered Industrial Lift Trucks) Safety Codes also.
All Issued by: Dept of Labour - (was called O.S.H)

4.Wearing of Seat belts not Law YET - However Stronlgey Recommended.

5. No

6.Yes Operators required to be certified and Authorised.
(Attended training course's etc.

7.Refresher Training / Certification every 3 years!

8.No to all!

(Hope you find this of some help)
Publications for in NZ re training of operators can be found under the Dept of Labour web Site.
Forklift "safety Codes" and Code of Practice's

Hey... Charlie's post about the UK includes a common misconception. There is NO compulsory licensing for FLT operators here.

(Having said that, the rules and guidance we do have is quite complicated. The Fork Lift Truck Association website http://www.fork-truck.org.uk/ has a whole bunch of fact sheets which answer this kind of thing - it's pretty much an FAQ about UK laws and best practice regarding FLT. Worth a look!!)

Hope that helps.

John:
I appreciate the detail in your reply.
Thanks
Chris

Thanks Joe. As always you have been very helpful. -Chris

Thanks Charlie. This is very helpful.

Hi all.
1. Your country name AUSTRALIA
2. Does your country have laws and regulations regarding safe lift truck operation? Yes
3. What is the name/number of the law or reg? AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS, ISO STANDARDS, STATE WORK SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
4. Does your country mandate the use of a seat belt for lift truck operators? Yes IF SEATBELT IS FITTED. ADDITIONALLY VICTORIAN WORK SAFETY ORGANISATION IS FORCING RETROFITTING OF SEAT BELTS
5. Does your country require licensing of LT operators. (e.g. You go to a gov't office to obtain it.) Yes IF POWERED. STATE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERED BUT TESTING PRIVATE
6. IF NO for number 5. Does your country require training and qualification of lift truck operators? Yes or No
7. Is recertification required at some frequency? NOT MANDATORY BUT SAFETY AWARE COMPANIES ASSIST ON REFRESHER TRAINING - SOME ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
8. Does your country require testing for LT operators?
a. Medical testing (fit for duty) No
b. Drug/alcohol testing NO - SOME COMPANIES/ SITES INSIST ON SUCH TESTING ON A RANDOM BASIS FOR ALL WORKERS

Cannot leave it there without making the following comments though:

In spite of licencing with basic requirements including checking the load and checking the load plate before lifting the load, in refresher training hardly any operators can tell us the rating of their forklift OR the maximum load they lift. In addition most intermediate / in process goods have no weight information on them so operator has no idea. Very few understand rated distance is both a horizontal and vertical distance. As a result in most sites I inspect forklift trucks are being overloaded

In spite of mandatory seat belt laws, very few sites achieve 100% compliance with many having very low compliance. Sites with 100% compliance tend to have an expectation that everyone on site from CEO down stops and forklift driver who is not wearing a seatbelt and instructs them to put it on, AND that they report the incident, AND multiple transgressions will lead to employment being terminated.

In regard to Toyotas fitted with SAS (and not TOYOTA three wheel counterbalance forklifts) I also comment. The SAS system is good but cannot eliminate fatalities.

I investigate fatalities with forklifts for our work safety organisation. The SAS system would not have prevented a collision then rollover (mast blind spot on a modern open mast resulted in forklift colliding with narrow building column while negotoating a wide curve); it would most likely not have prevented a rollover caused by a heavy swinging load; may have prevented a rollover of a forklift where the operator did a sharp turn with a lifting clamp at height; would not have prevented a worker being run over once again due to the mast blind spot; would not have prevented a collision with a pedestrian and his death while carrying pallets 2 high forwards into a pantech trailer; would not have prevented an eight tonne load tipping of forklift tynes and killing a worker; and would not have prevented a walkie forklift falling of a truck tail gate and killing the operator.

So it would be unrealistic to expect SAS to eliminate all rollover and tipover fatalities.

brochure sent.