Robert Matthew
New member
How to avoid common forklift hazards?
Common forklift hazards
- Thread starter Robert Matthew
- Start date
- Views: 3648
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,336
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
I was the alternate forklift operator at the Machine Shop and enjoyed it...
I got that job because one of the guys parked the forklift with the forks up and someone walked into them... not good.
A lot is common sense... no riders, no horseplay, think before moving and as mentioned situationell awareness... being in a hurry serves no one and is ripe for accidents...
We would sometimes have to go out on the road for certain deliveries... one thing to operate on a smooth and level concrete surface and quite another with elevation changes...
I got that job because one of the guys parked the forklift with the forks up and someone walked into them... not good.
A lot is common sense... no riders, no horseplay, think before moving and as mentioned situationell awareness... being in a hurry serves no one and is ripe for accidents...
We would sometimes have to go out on the road for certain deliveries... one thing to operate on a smooth and level concrete surface and quite another with elevation changes...
Deere Dude
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2011
- Messages
- 3,886
- Tractor
- John Deere 3720
I worked in a big factory that used forklifts with baskets to hoist guys up to work on piping etc. Just a steel parts basket with 3' sides and I don't think we ever chained it down. It worked and never thought much of them sliding off, we just went slow. Until one day the mast tilted forward and a basket slid off with the guy in it. He got banged up a little because everything in factories are made of steel it seems.
That changed to snorklelifts and scissor lifts with all the tie downs and lanyards.
The operator really has to be on the ball if someone does go up in one. Tractors are more dangerous because of the radical movement with a little nudge on the controller.
That changed to snorklelifts and scissor lifts with all the tie downs and lanyards.
The operator really has to be on the ball if someone does go up in one. Tractors are more dangerous because of the radical movement with a little nudge on the controller.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,336
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
I was the operator for the baskets... slow and steady hand and repeated verbally each action to confirm...
The basket was chained to the lift... so no danger that way.
The same guy that left the forks up was too much of a jokester and didn't last long...
The basket was chained to the lift... so no danger that way.
The same guy that left the forks up was too much of a jokester and didn't last long...
Dftodd
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Messages
- 3,500
- Location
- vilonia, arkansas
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S
I happen to be a fork lift instructor/ evaluator at work. Had to take a 3 day course for the certification. Most of it was learning how to teach 
Slow and easy is the best advice. Also keep the load centered and as low as possible to the ground. Avoid abrupt manuevers. When going up and down a hill, or loading ramp, keep your load on the uphill side. In other words, drive up the slope, back down the slope when a load is on the forks. Know and understand the lift capacity for the machine your operating as well. Safe lifting capacity is listed on a plaque on the machine. Should list 24" on center, sometimes list 36" on center as well as 48". Just depends on the size of the machine and length of the forks.
My small fork lift at work (5,000lb capacity) only lists 24" on center, but only has 48" long forks.
My big forklift (16,000lb capacity) lists 24", 36", and 48". That one has 8' long forks. I've had the back tires off the ground on it before lifting a 13,000lb piece of equipment. That will make you pucker But I also expected it to be questionable so we took steps to minimize movement and increase safety. We kept the lift at 6" max off the ground to move the equipment into the middle of the parking lot. Took about a foot ball field worth of movement to get the equipment turned to allow for loading. Then parked a backhoe on the back end of the forklift to keep it planted on the ground then lifted the piece of equipment just high enough for a tractor trailer to back under it.
Slow and easy is the best advice. Also keep the load centered and as low as possible to the ground. Avoid abrupt manuevers. When going up and down a hill, or loading ramp, keep your load on the uphill side. In other words, drive up the slope, back down the slope when a load is on the forks. Know and understand the lift capacity for the machine your operating as well. Safe lifting capacity is listed on a plaque on the machine. Should list 24" on center, sometimes list 36" on center as well as 48". Just depends on the size of the machine and length of the forks.
My small fork lift at work (5,000lb capacity) only lists 24" on center, but only has 48" long forks.
My big forklift (16,000lb capacity) lists 24", 36", and 48". That one has 8' long forks. I've had the back tires off the ground on it before lifting a 13,000lb piece of equipment. That will make you pucker
But I also expected it to be questionable so we took steps to minimize movement and increase safety. We kept the lift at 6" max off the ground to move the equipment into the middle of the parking lot. Took about a foot ball field worth of movement to get the equipment turned to allow for loading. Then parked a backhoe on the back end of the forklift to keep it planted on the ground then lifted the piece of equipment just high enough for a tractor trailer to back under it.
Wagtail
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Messages
- 12,656
- Location
- St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
- Tractor
- JD 4105 / JD Z355E (48" deck)
G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.
x2. Everything that I learnt on my forklift course I have applied to operating the Front End Loader (FEL) of my tractor... especially when moving a load down a slope or incline.
So what, exactly, is a 2012 tractor?
Enjoy the site.
Big Barn
Super Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2013
- Messages
- 6,874
- Location
- Victoria, B C
- Tractor
- More than 40 over the years. Ten at any one time. Mostly Ford and New Holland
I happen to be a fork lift instructor/ evaluator at work. Had to take a 3 day course for the certification. Most of it was learning how to teach
Slow and easy is the best advice. Also keep the load centered and as low as possible to the ground. Avoid abrupt manuevers. When going up and down a hill, or loading ramp, keep your load on the uphill side. In other words, drive up the slope, back down the slope when a load is on the forks. Know and understand the lift capacity for the machine your operating as well. Safe lifting capacity is listed on a plaque on the machine. Should list 24" on center, sometimes list 36" on center as well as 48". Just depends on the size of the machine and length of the forks.
My small fork lift at work (5,000lb capacity) only lists 24" on center, but only has 48" long forks.
My big forklift (16,000lb capacity) lists 24", 36", and 48". That one has 8' long forks. I've had the back tires off the ground on it before lifting a 13,000lb piece of equipment. That will make you pucker
I too had certification for fork lift training (here on the farm). It was way cheaper than sending employees to classes for training and recertification
^^Good info^^
