The Forklifter System

UK heavy-duty vehicle lift supplier SOMERSTOTALKARE is calling for more caution in the servicing and repairing of forklifts.

There have recently been a number of accidents resulting in injuries, involving forklifts that haven't been jacked up correctly by an engineer carrying out repairs on the underside of a truck.

In Scotland, a man was crushed when the truck he was working on fell on him and the Sheriff's Court later found that the truck had not been properly supported with suitable blocks.

James Radford, sales and marketing director at SOMERSTOTALKARE, says the case illustrates the risks associated with traditional methods of lifting forklifts with a jack and wooden blocks.

"In the vast majority of cases, when the operation is carried out properly, there is minimum risk," he explains. "However, when engineers are under pressure, there is always the temptation to take short cuts or to have a quick look underneath the truck before supporting blocks have been put in place. The fact that blocks need to be used at all reflects the fact that using a jack is an inherently unstable method of lifting a vehicle."

According to SOMERSTOTALKARE, an increasing number of forklift operators are looking for alternatives to the traditional 'jack and block' lifting method. In response, the company has developed a new system that builds on its 25 years' experience in the heavy-duty vehicle lift market.

The Forklifter system, which it exhibited at the NEC Birmingham in March 2013 (Forkliftaction.com News #600), relies on a pair of electro-mechanical columns, similar to the ones more commonly used in sets of four or six to lift heavier vehicles such as lorries or buses, and a bespoke adaptor.

It can lift weights of up to 4 T per column and can easily be moved around a workshop. Users can specify cable-free versions to reduce the risk of trips and falls.

"The system also provides better all-round access to the forklift when it is raised and working height can be adjusted at the touch of a button," Radford says.

SOMERSTOTALKARE has been supplying heavy-duty vehicle lifts to the UK market for over 30 years, selling over 6,000 sets of mobile lifts to its customers. The UK firm also offers a range of ancillary equipment and operator training.