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In its safety magazine, distributed state wide, the Iowa OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recently published an article that warns of the dangers that could develop when forklift loading and operations are conducted without regard to state and federal guidelines for such machinery.

One of the main Iowa worker safety concerns is the matter of the machine’s center of gravity.  Forklifts with a 24” load center are stable, and safest, when loaded so the weight of the load falls no higher than 24” from the two forks and no further forward than 24” from the base of the forks.  Machinery with 36” and 48” load centers are most stable when loaded according to these same factors with 36” and 48” being the key numbers to consider.

Forklifts loaded off center, with the bulk of the weight to either side or too far forward from the base of the forks, are the most dangerous to the operator and other workers in the vicinity.  All manufacturers of these machines equip them with data plates that provide loading specifications for every machine purchased.

Load capacity is also a potential problem.  When a load weighs more than specifications dictate, the machine becomes risky to workers but even a small load, considerably under the maximum allowed weight, can become life threatening when loaded off the center of gravity described above.

Sometimes modifications to the forklift are necessary on a job site.  Drum carriers, rotators, and grippers may need to be adjusted or added to the machine to improve performance.  Other modifications may include attaching boom extensions, cylinder caddies, hoppers, rug rams, and boom extensions.

Any time a forklift is modified, written advance authorization from the manufacturer is required.  Once modifications are approved, the manufacturer will provide a data plate reflecting these changes.  The new data plate must be attached to the machine, replacing the original factory-issued plate.

In cases where the manufacturer denies modifications, a business owner can employ the services of a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) who is qualified to authorize safety and structural modifications but only after a thorough review of the issues that led to the manufacturer’s denial of the modification request.

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