Fork lifts are designed to carry heavy items but even they have their limits. Manufacturers are aware of this which is why each vehicle is accompanied with a label outlining its equipment capacity. To get the best result with your unit, it is vital that you take its equipment capacity into careful consideration. A careful assessment of the different factors that you will be working, will allow you make a more informed decision.
An important first step to choosing the right fork lift is determining the size and weight of the items that you'll be carrying. Forklifts are capable of carrying weights in excess of 10,000lbs depending on the model. Fork lift trucks function with the similar counterbalance principle of a seesaw. If the weight of the cargo exceeds that of the equipment capacity, the truck can very easily become unbalanced exposing the unit, driver and surrounding workers to risk.
To avoid this, it is advised that employees only work with fork lifts that have the right capacity. A common mistake that companies sometimes make is to overcompensate and buy forklifts with equipment capacities that exceed what they require. Doing this will only make you spend more money that you need too.
Another important factor that should affect the decision of which truck lift to use is the terrain that the forklift will be operating in. Despite their power, fork lifts with internal combustion engines are rarely used indoors because of the ventilation risk posed by the fumes. In such scenarios, electric powered forklifts are the preferred option. Electric forklifts also come fitted with non-marking tires so that they do not smear or leave streaks on the surface.
High reach forklifts can also be used on dry or level ground. If the surface is uneven then you might need an all-terrain forklift. Fork lifts might also require the addition of special attachments before they can be used for certain tasks. There is nothing wrong with this. However, you will need to ensure that the chosen attachments do not de-rate and push your truck below its equipment capacity.
Lastly, you'll want to choose a suitable option for your unit. Depending on where the forklift truck is going to be used, you might be inclined to buy units with options such as turn signals, side shifting, back up alarm and warning lights. Be sure to factor in all these attachments and options when calculating the final equipment capacity. If you are unsure of how to go about this, there are several reliable online services that can come to your assistance. A good example is the Lift Truck Capacity Calculator.
The Lift Truck Capacity Calculator is an online application developed and powered by Professional Forklift Engineering Services. The calculator can be used in finding the accurate equipment capacity of a fork lift. The online service also provides opportunities for users to order capacity labels. The capacity rating tags are authorized and firmly in line with the regulations of the OSHA. For more information about the web service, visit http://www.lifttruckcapacitycalculator.com.
Finding the right forklift is not as difficult as some people might suggest. There are however a number of vital factors that you will need to take into consideration.
Properly determining forklift capacity is important. This is because that a failure to get it right can lead to a myriad of problems. Included among these are injuries to employees that can be serious.
Correctly establishing forklift load capacity is critical. This is because not getting it right can result in numerous problems. Included among these are injuries to employees that can be major.
Understanding safe load truck capacity requirements can be difficult. Not only do you have to worry about ever-shifting OSHA regulations, but the various modifications that take place over the life of your forklift equipment will also come into play.
Determining truck load capacity can be rather difficult. There are a multitude of factors that come into play when determining the load or carrying capacity of your fork lift. While many lifts have an initial indication of their maximum capacity, modifications or changes to the truck can change what the forklift can safely carry.
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There are a multitude of factors that affect the lifting capacity of a forklift and these parameters, which are indicated on the capacity data plate, include:
- Make or Manufacturer
- Model
- Power Source
- Battery Weight (for electrics)
- Tire Type
- Tire Size
- Mast Lift Height
- Mast Carriage Type
- Attachment(s) Type
- Attachment(s) model
- Load Center of Gravity (CG or LC)
If any of these parameters are changed, particularly the attachments on the forklift carriage or the load center, the capacity plate should be checked for accuracy to ensure safe load handling.
Forklift attachments include anything that is attached to the front carriage of a forklift or is attached to an attachment on the forklift. A typical forklift attachment configuration might include a hang-on side shifter and two forks. In this case, if the forks are removed and longer forks are added, the capacity of the machine could be drastically reduced. Or if the forklift is used to pick up a fork mounted attachment, such as a drum handler or fork extensions, then a capacity data plate must be changed or added to reflect the new configuration. OSHA forklift safety regulations state that a forklift must have a legible capacity plate to reflect any attachment used on the lift.
Lift height or maximum fork height (MFH) has a significant effect on a forklift’s load carrying capacity, and forklifts with high masts will have a greater carrying capacity at lower lift heights than at the maximum lift height. For this reason forklifts with very high masts may have a dual capacity rating on the data plate; a maximum capacity up to a mid level lift height, and a lower capacity rating at the maximum lift height. This allows the forklift operator to work with heavier loads at low heights, i.e. loading and unloading trucks, cross-docking, etc., while using the same forklift to put away lighter loads to high storage locations.
Because a forklift is using leverage to lift a load, any condition that adds weight to the front of the forklift and causes the load center (LC or CG) of the load to be moved further away from the forklift will contribute to a reduction in the residual carrying capacity of the machine. Forklift attachments can cause these reductions, as well as the dimensions of the load and the load handling conditions. Load center typically refers to the horizontal distance to the load CG and is typically half the length of the load for symmetrical objects. To illustrate how attachments and load CG’s can affect residual carrying capacity, consider for example that a particular forklift with only forks on the carriage is rated at 5,000 lb capacity @ 24” load center on the data plate. This forklift will only be rated at 1,270 lb when equipped with a particular 8 foot long fork mounted jib boom because the boom adds weight and moves the load center out to 96 inches. In this case the forklift may employ a dual load center capacity rating on the capacity plate indicating a greater lifting capacity (2,750 lb) at a 4 foot load center and a lower capacity (1,270 lb) at the 8 foot load center.
Small changes in load center can also greatly affect the carrying capacity. Consider the capacity of the same 5,000 lb forklift with 48” forks and rated at a 24” load center, drops to 3,660 lbs when 72” fork extensions are employed to lift a 6 foot long load.
The main thing to consider is that every forklift has a legible capacity plate that accurately reflects the attachment configuration being used at the correct load center for the load being lifted and contact Professional Forklift Engineering Services at www.LiftTruckCapacityCalculator.com to check your lift capacity and get a professional engineering (PE) certified capacity rating plate on your forklift today.
"Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to workplace safety and health standards. Deficient forklifts and improperly handled chemicals can lead to serious injuries or death,"said Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North office in Des Plaines. "All employers must take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace."
Four repeat violations with proposed penalties of $132,000 have been cited,including exposing workers to hazards by allowing them to operate forklifts that remained in service even after deficiencies were noted; exposing workers' eyes, faces and hands to corrosive chemicals without providing suitable eyewash facilities; and failing to develop an emergency response plan and conduct fire extinguisher training. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The company was cited for the same violations at numerous facilities between 2006 and 2011.
Central Transport also has been cited for eight serious violations with proposed penalties of $30,800, including failing to train and evaluate forklift drivers, maintain forklift name plates in legible condition, label hazardous material containers, maintain the mechanic shop maintenance area in a dry condition, provide workers with training on hazardous chemicals and provide material data safety sheets for workers' reference. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Finally, the company has been cited for five other-than-serious violations with $2,000 in proposed penalties for failing to maintain the OSHA 300 injury and illness log, maintain fire extinguishers, illuminate exit signs and unlock a fire exit door. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CentralTransport_77120_1205_11.pdf*.
Central Transport, a national freight company based in Warren, Mich., has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Chicago North area director in Des Plaines or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Chicago North office at 847-803-4800.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
