Currently, I am dealing with a particular operator who thinks it is fine to navigate tight areas with the forks 10+ feet in the air with a load. Trying to find a regulation that says you should not do that. Our own internal and external training we have received for driving forklifts says we should not travel at more than 8 inches. Osha states you should travel at a safe height and that height is 4 to 8 inches but doesn't actually state a regulation. Any help would be appreciated.

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Not a safe practice to drive with forks elevated....an explanation of how the 3 point suspension work in the 'Stability Triangle' will make sense to a thinking person who understands that the center of gravity is constantly moving within that 'safe' area. Adding extra pull from travelling with weight of the forks[ 500 lbs] elevated will tend to make the center of gravity move outside the stability triangle and tip the truck over.

• Posted 23 Sep 23:28
• Reply by hiloman
• New York, United States

"Let's not meet by Accident!"

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as was said in an earlier post some lifts do have a speed limiting switch on the mast that limits the travel speed when elevated above a predetermined height. Not all lifts are equipt with this option though so by general rule and is taught in every training class given to operators, you should ALWAYS travel with the forks only a couple of inches off the ground at all times, especially when carrying a load. The ONLY time you would be moving the lift is if you are putting your load/product on an elevated shelf and only doing it during that process of inserting it into the storage spot or removing it. You always insure once you have the load on the forks you should always bring it straight down to the floor, or wait to the last instance to raise it, at your first available opportunity to avoid instability factors which are very high when the forks are elevated to a height above the top of the mast.
If you are fully elevated always minimize the amount of traveling you have to do no matter what the situation is.
Note: if a lift has a travel speed limit switch on it then it has to be operational by law, no exceptions, if you find one bypassed that is a huge violation and big fines could be given to the company if not repaired and found this way.

• Posted 9 Aug 07:27
• Reply by swoop223
• North Carolina, United States

You've been swooped!

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Does this unit have limit switches on the mast to reduce speed when traveling while elevated? Most ele. units are set up this way.If so then he is right. If not check the data tag on the unit and see if any down rating info is on the tag that reflects any data for traveling / weight / height info. Fork length can also play a factor in speed/ height operations. Does your company set policy concerning this issue, if not you need to have a set policy in writing (black and white) to protect your self in case of an accident. Just let some law firm get a hold of this one. I have done my share of accident investigations and with no set in place policy in writing this can turn into a very expensive can of worms. The excuse is going to be that is how i always did it.

• Posted 7 Aug 20:01
• Reply by triumphrider
• Texas, United States

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As I say to anyone I have the pleasure of instructing, be they a novice or an experienced operator:
Seat belts are not designed to prevent injury but are designed to prevent serious injury in cases of an accident.
As for turning with an elevated load and at speed......

• Posted 6 Aug 17:07
• Reply by Tat2dPete
• Strathclyde, United Kingdom

Pete

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That is a textbook example of a Preventable Accident.

• Posted 6 Aug 11:33
• Reply by LaGrange
• Missouri, United States

Strong in mind, Strong in Health.

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Be careful!

• Posted 6 Aug 09:03
• Modified 11 Aug 06:45 by poster
• Reply by 1CrownTech
• Washington, United States

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Well spoken

• Posted 2 Aug 17:38
• Reply by LaGrange
• Missouri, United States

Strong in mind, Strong in Health.

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Even though the original post is from , it is good to see people are still making comments on what is a serious issue.
As has been said by many, there is no "legally defined" height and the common "norm" when training is generally the forks between 4 - 6 inches from the ground and tilted backwards.
Here in the UK, it is one of the questions you can be asked as part of the Theory Test:
When driving an unladen lift truck how should the forks be set?
The answer is: As low as practicable and tilted back
But as many have said, it comes down to the initial training and then the management on-site to enforce good practice.

• Posted 2 Aug 17:15
• Reply by Tat2dPete
• Strathclyde, United Kingdom

Pete

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since your own internal training states a set height that should be all you need that person is in violation of your company policy I don't know how your company handles things like this but most i have worked with gives 3 written warnings and then termination. some companies policy states any safety violation is termination on the spot. Good luck

• Posted 30 Jul 23:07
• Reply by JohnLockridge
• Missouri, United States

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You need to fire that idiot !

That is a serious safety violation, plus very very dumb thing to do with any machine that uses forks.

• Posted 30 Jul 15:47
• Reply by LaGrange
• Missouri, United States

Strong in mind, Strong in Health.

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Travelling at height is a safety breach, end of the story. The company policies and procedures and training manual should state this clearly. If a person is breaking those rules in relation to safety, they should be instantly dismissed. Nobody, you, me the boss or owner of the company or that eejit clown, fool dope has no right, whatsoever to put everyone else in danger. Go through the proper channels and show others that the company is serious in relation to the safety of the employees.

• Posted 30 Jul 07:37
• Reply by paddyB
• Queensland, Australia

In 20 years time people will regret what they didn't do rather than what they did.

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From some accidents in the past if the forks are over 4 and you hit a person with the fork it could cut the main artery and causing death below 4 it may just be ankle or foot damage and the person 99% of the time lives through it its much easier to follow directions than kill someone

• Posted 19 Mar 05:05
• Reply by JohnLockridge
• Missouri, United States

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The OSHA standard requires ("shall") operator training and further requires that the training includes the "Operating Instructions" (i.e. the Operator Manual that comes with the truck). I would look there first for instructions on how high to carry a load while traveling:

OSHA .178(l)(3)
Training program content. Powered industrial truck operators shall receive initial training in the following topics, except in topics which the employer can demonstrate are not applicable to safe operation of the truck in the employer's workplace.
Truck-related topics:
.178(l)(3)(i)(A)
Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to operate;

ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 (which OSHA requires conformance to) further states:

5.3.10 Travel with load-engaging means or load low and, where possible, tilted back. Do not elevate the load except during stacking.

and

5.3.18.(c)/5.3.22(c) - Tipping forward can occur and its likelihood is increased under the following conditions, or combination of them:
(2) traveling with the load tilted forward and/or elevated

and

5.3.22.(b) - The likelihood of lateral tipover is increased under any of the following conditions, or combinations of them
(2) traveling with the load or load handling mechanism elevated

• Posted 7 Jan 23:56
• Reply by FL_Engineer
• New York, United States

Forklift Engineer

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Are there any safety programing that will slow a standup down when the forks are fully extended? We had had two accidents, one flip over and one taking out overhead camera, These are brand new Clark lifts. Can they be slowed down with forks up?

• Posted 5 Jan 07:40
• Reply by FanMan
• Ohio, United States

Rick Lemaster

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Another problem that can happen while driving with the forks up high is if they hit something up there, while moving, the leverage is so great that it will want to tip the machine over, especially going backwards.

• Posted 15 May 21:39
• Reply by mrfixit
• New York, United States

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FORKLIFT OPERATOR

SAFETY TRAINING

Section 2 | Driving, Lifting, and Placing

Whenever you climb onto the forklift, use the three-point technique. Make three points of contact with the forklift. Grab a secure part of the lift with each hand, and put one foot securely on the forklift.

These basic precautions will increase your safety and the safety of those around you.

• On smooth indoor surfaces, keep your forks as low as possible &#; only three of four inches off the floor.

• Don&#;t give anyone a ride on the forklift, and don&#;t do any stunt driving or horseplay.

• Keep all your limbs inside the forklift. When driving in reverse, don&#;t wrap your hand around any outside guards &#; if the lift runs into something, your hand will be crushed.

• Always fasten your seat belt. If the truck has a safety belt, you&#;re required to wear it.

• Never exceed the speed limit in your work area.

• Avoid loose objects, bumps, or depressions in the floor. Collisions could cause you to lose control of the steering, bring the forklift to a sudden stop, or tip the forklift.

• Avoid wet, oily, or icy surfaces. Clean up fluids as soon as possible.

• If your work area has convex mirrors at corners and blind spots, use them.

• Sound your horn at corners and blind spots and then proceed slowly.

• Never approach a person head-on, especially a person standing in front of a fixed object like a wall or rack. If you can&#;t stop the forklift, or it lurches forward, the worker will be crushed. Instead, approach parallel to the person.

• Don&#;t let anyone walk or stand under the elevated forks.

• Stay at least three forklift lengths away from forklifts ahead of you.

• Don&#;t pass a forklift traveling in the same direction if you&#;re at a blind spot, an intersection, or any other dangerous spots. Avoid passing at all if you can.
   

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Never jump off of a forklift. If the forklift is tipping over, do not attempt to jump off, because you could be pinned under the lift.

If the forklift is tipping over, protect yourself by staying put:

• Stay in your seat and do not attempt to jump off.

• Lean away from the falling direction of the lift.

• Hold onto the steering wheel and make sure you&#;re stable.

Your never want to lean toward your fall. You should hold onto the steering wheel, make sure you&#;re stable and lean away from your falling direction.

Before you pick up a load, make sure the load does not exceed the capacity of the forklift. The identification plate tells you three things:

• The maximum load that&#;s safe to life.

• The maximum height for lifting.

• How far the load center is in front of the forks.
   

Make sure you know exactly what you will be lifting:

• There&#;s a big difference between a light load and a heavy, off-center load.

• If the load is unstable, restack it or attach the load securely to the pallet with banding or stretch wrapping.

• If you&#;ll be handing a load with an unusual shape, know where and how you&#;ll safely stack the load before you lift it.

Always take these precautions when lifting a load:

• If you&#;re going to raise the load, check for overhead obstructions. Look for lights, pipes, or sprinkler systems.

• Center the forks under the load so the weight is evenly distributed.

• Drop the forks to the floor and slowly position them under the load.

• Drive forward until the load is resting against the backrest.

• Tilt the load against the backrest. If the load is unstable, lift the load slightly first, then carefully tilt it back so that the load stays tight against the backrest. If it&#;s a stable load and secure on the pallet, tilt first, then lift.

• Once the load is lifted, lower it to a safe traveling height. Keep the forks two to four inches off the floor if driving on a smooth surface.

 Follow these precautions when traveling with a load:

• Keep your forks at the lowest safe height. Raise them slightly if you come to bumps or seams in the floor. On a smooth, indoor floor, keep the forks about two to four inches off the floor.

• Don&#;t raise or lower the forks while driving. This causes the center of gravity to shift unpredictably.

• Pedestrians always have the right of way. Look out for them. Always look in the direction of travel. Travel in reverse if you load blocks your vision.

• If a load is so tall that you can&#;t see over it, try to split the load and carry it on two separate pallets, on two separate trips.

• If you can&#;t split a tall load, either drive in reverse or use a spotter. Make sure you understand the hand signals the spotter will use.

• On ramps and inclines, keep the load on the uphill side of the forklift. Try to travel straight up and down grades, ramps, and inclines. The forklift could tip if you turn on a slope.
   

Before placing a load, check the destination. Is it flat and stable? Will the load tilt or lean? Follow these guidelines when placing a load:

• Never place heavy loads on top of light loads.

• If you're placing loads onto a rack or storage loft, be sure the structure can support the load.

• If any rack legs or support members are bent or disconnected, wait until the rack is repaired to place the load.

• Make sure the rack decking is in good condition.

• If you're stacking, the bottom pallets must be in good condition and able to support the load.

• Stop the forklift in front of where you want to place the load.

• Slowly raise the load to the required height.

• Move forward slowly with the raised load.

• Position the load for placement, and tilt it forward so that it&#;s level.

• Place the load squarely and straight.

• Once the load settles, check behind you for pedestrians and other traffic. Then back up slowly.

• Make sure the forks clear the pallet before turning or lowering the forks.

• Lower forks before moving again.

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