labor lawAdivision of labor law center

A current issue of an Alaska worker safety publication discusses the importance of following regulations when operating fork trucks, also called forklifts.  In this country, there are 1.5 million people who use fork trucks on a regular basis.  All types of businesses use them, and there is no question about the fact that they can be dangerous.

The Alaska OSHA would like all employers and employees to be aware that improper fork truck use can lead to severe injury and casualty.  Safety when operating heavy machinery is absolutely crucial. It should be taken very seriously.  Each individual who needs to use a fork truck as part of their job should be thoroughly trained and informed about all the safety precautions.

A common misconception about fork trucks is that you can balance a load by adding weight to the back of the truck.  This is not true.  The fork truck’s center of gravity will be shifted to the rear axel and pivot point.  Adding weight to the rear will only create more instability.  Lighter loads need to be properly centered onto the truck.  Each fork should have the same amount of weight on it.  The load center of gravity on an average sized fork truck should be less than 24’’ higher than the forks and less than 24’’ from the base of the forks.  It is not a good idea to place a light load too far forward on the forks.  The fork truck’s maximum capacity should be indicated on a data plate somewhere on the truck.  Make sure the load does not exceed this weight.

Attachments or modifications to a fork truck should also be indicated on the data plate.  If a drum gripper, cylinder caddy or hopper is added, it can affect the safety rating.  The maximum capacity of the machine is also changed when an attachment is put on.  Make sure the information decal on the fork truck is updated with this information. 

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