The equipment available for work at height includes scaffolding, tower scaffolds, mobile elevating working platforms (MEWPs), staircases, platforms and portable ladders. The use of an appropriate and suitable method of access will depend on the nature of the task to be carried out, the frequency of occurrence, the duration of the work and the availability of equipment. However, sometimes forklift truck is used inappropriately and this creates safety issues.
The primary use of a forklift truck is to lift materials and not people. However, in exceptional circumstances it can be used to allow people to work at height when used with mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). Regulation 7(2)(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 places a duty on employers to select the most suitable work equipment for the task to be carried out regardless of the duration of the task. To encourage safer working practices, in these exceptional circumstances, occasional use of non-integrated working platforms with forklift trucks is allowed in the UK and the tasks which can be carried out include:
- Non-routine maintenance tasks for which it is impractical to hire in purpose-built equipment
- The replacement of light fittings in high-rise warehouses if no other access equipment is available
- Tasks that would otherwise be carried out using a less safe means of access such as ladders, because it is impractical to hire in purpose-designed people lifting equipment due to the short duration and occasional nature of the task, e.g. clearing a blocked gutter;
- Checking on high-level damage to racking suspected of causing an immediate risk
Certain routine tasks are not exceptional circumstances and are not permissible. These include routine or planned tasks, those associated with production or pre planned activities such as periodic maintenance or stocktaking.
However, people often use unsafe methods of access to work at height for short duration and occasional tasks. For example, a substantial number of serious accidents occur when people are lifted on the forks or buckets, pallets or stillages placed on the forks of forklift trucks. We covered two such incidences in the recent News Articles titled Fatal Forklift Truck Accident due to Fall from Height and Use of Forklift Truck as a Substitute for Scaffolding
Before using a non-integrated working platform, ensure the following:
- Consult the supplier of both the forklift truck and platform to ensure that the combination is compatible
- The weight of the platform together with any equipment, materials and people must not exceed half the actual lifting capacity of the forklift truck
- If the platform is fork mounted, ideally the arms of the forklift truck should extend fully into the fork pockets. If this is not possible, they must extend to a distance of at least 75% of the platform length.
- Ensure that the screens or guards on the platform provide adequate protection
- Ensure that the platform is properly located and secured before use and is stable
- Ensure that while the platform is elevated, the tilt or side shift, chassis or mask levelling and reach functions are not capable of movement
- The forklift truck operator must remain at the controls while the platform is elevated
- The forklift truck/platform combination should only be used on firm, well-maintained and level surfaces
- The forklift truck should not be moved while the platform is elevated except for minor positional adjustments
- The parking brakes must be applied
- There must be adequate communications between forklift truck operator and people on the platform.
The design of MEWPs for lifting people is covered by BS EN 280-1 and BS EN 280-2. Consequently, forklift truck/integrated working platform combinations that comply with both industrial truck and MEWP standards or equivalent give a higher level of safety than non-integrated platforms and are not restricted to use in exceptional circumstances.
Health and Safety Executive’s “Working platforms (non integrated) on forklift trucks Guidance Note PM28” is essential reading before commencing work at height.
Wallace School of Transport including Forklift Training in London is a fully accredited RTITB company with over 60 years’ experience. You can be trained either at your own work site or at Wallace Centre in Park Royal. If you have any questions, call Wallace Forklift Training on 020 8453 3440, choose option 3 or click here to email us.