The Basics of Forklift Safety (Part 2)

Understanding the basics of forklift stability

1. Forklifts are designed to carry loads. When a forklift moves without a load it is much more unstable than one with a load carried low to the ground.
2. Because loads are not fastened down, applying the brakes often causes the load to shift, causing additional instability.
3. Loads are intended to be carried low. When a load is raised the stability of the forklift drops substantially. This becomes even more dangerous if the forklift is moving.
4. Uneven ground, especially when going downhill with the load in the front, is extremely unstable.
5. Because of the narrow wheel base of a forklift design (designed that way intentionally in order to allow the lift to go into narrow spaces and still be maneuverable), the forklift is extremely unstable when the operator takes a sharp turn.
6. Uneven loads on a forklift can add tremendously to the instability.
7. It takes very little to flip a forklift if the upper part (top of the cab or raised forklifts) comes into contact with an overhead structure.

Measures to be taken in order to compensate for forklift instability

• Set and enforce low speed limits for forklifts. Do not allow reckless driving.
• Delineate pedestrian zones in the warehouse using floor marking tape and enforce it.
• Make sure that forklifts have seatbelts and make sure that the operator wears it. When an operator jumps off a tipping or falling forklift the odds are very good that he will get seriously hurt or killed.
• Remove incentives and such that encourage operators to speed in order to get the work done. Instead, give incentives for operators who demonstrate safety in the way that they do the work.
• Always check the distribution of the load to make sure it is properly distributed.