forklift load center

Defining Forklift Load Center

Understanding the forklift load center is vital to an operator keeping the forklift and load stable. Keep in mind that forklifts typically weigh almost twice of their rated lift capacity. To protect operators and product, load center ratings are required on the forklift data plate. To understand the concept of load center, visualize two children […]

toyota forklift paper roll clamp

Toyota Paper Roll Handling Forklift

The paper roll handling application is one of the most demanding and rugged applications for a forklift. As a result, the paper industry has been forced to cope with forklift issues such as: Overheating Poor fuel economy Poor roll clamp operation Product & equipment damage Equipment downtime Operator fatigue Sound familiar? It’s time to consider […]

forklift on incline

Forklift Safety for Ramps, Slopes and Inclines

A ramp, slope or incline is defined as an angle that exceeds 10%, or approximately one foot rise for every ten feet of ramp or incline. OSHA 1910.178(n)(7) addresses regulations for forklift ramps, slopes or inclines that must be followed any time a powered industrial truck is on a defined incline. OSHA Regulations for Ramps […]

fork extensions

Longer Forks versus Fork Extensions

Forklift forks must support at least two thirds of the load’s length. So, if an operator handles 6 ft. square crates, the minimum legal fork length requirement would be 4 ft. Fork extensions can be utilized to quickly lengthen the forks but depending on a company’s load demands, longer forks offer a safer alternative. Fork […]

forklift tip over

What to Do During a Forklift Tip-Over

On average 100 people lose their lives each year working on, or around forklifts, and almost half of those casualties result from forklift tip-over accidents. Engineering, accident statistics, eye-witness, and first-hand accounts tell us that if an operator stays inside the overhead guard area in the seat of the forklift, the operator’s chance of survival […]

Toyota Core Electric Forklift

Reading a Forklift Data Tag

“We almost had a forklift tip-over yesterday when an operator lifted a load that was too heavy for the forklift. How can we educate our operators about the forklift’s capacity?” Forklift operators must know how to read a data tag. The information on the tag is very important because it features unique capacity details for […]

toyota sas

Active Mast Function Controller

“Our new Toyota forklifts have a fork leveler button. Can older forklift models be retrofit with this feature?” Toyota Forklift SAS The active mast function controller (AMC) was introduced by Toyota Forklift in 1999 as part of its System of Active Stability (SAS). With a push of a button, the AMC automatically levels forks. This […]

High efficiency lighting installation image

Aerial Lift Safety: Minimum Handrail Height

What is the aerial lift minimum handrail height? Fall protection requirements for handrail systems require a minimum height of 42”, plus or minus 3”. If an operator steps up on the rails or toe boards the operator will not have proper handrail height for their body. Unfortunately, many Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) professionals are […]

The Reason for Scissor Lift Lanyard Attachment Points

Most equipment manufacturers, backed by OSHA and ANSI regulations and interpretations, agree that wearing a body harness and lanyard while operating a scissor lift is not required. In some cases, wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE) may add risk. For example, narrow-based scissor lifts have tipped from the force and momentum created by a person […]

choosing forklift forks

Fork Position of a Forklift

Do you know the best fork position on your forklift? Knowing the correct answer may seem insignificant, but it is a skill that requires education of the operator as well as enforcement of the rules. It reduces accidents, but more importantly reduces the severity of injuries when accidents do happen. Forks: Driving Due to the operator’s […]

toyota sas

Toyota System of Active Stability (SAS)

Providing forklift safety training to operators is one of the best practices to prevent accidents involving employees and product. However, even with training, operators will find themselves in dangerous situations. Toyota recognizes this reality and since 1999 has equipped their forklifts with the System of Active Stability (SAS). This system includes an active control rear […]

aerial lift maintenance requirements

Aerial Lift Safety: When to Wear a Body Harness

A common question regarding aerial lift truck safety is “do my operators need to wear a body harness?” The risk of an operator being catapulted is the true deciding factor. It sounds extreme but when an operator drives a boom lift over rough terrain, even in a lowered position, an operator can be ejected up […]