Forklifts are a boon to many industries where lifting heavy loads is not a job that can be accomplished by human strength alone. However, forklifts, like fire, should be used responsibly. There are still some misuses and abuses of forklifts happening daily, and these misuses and abuses can be costly. The following three examples show some things that you should not do with forklifts and why.
Forklifts Should Not Be Used to Pick up Two Half Pallets Simultaneously
Half pallets should not be picked up, side by side, simultaneously. This includes two half-sized pallets that are fully loaded, two full-sized pallets that are half-loaded or a combination of the two. The supposition that lifting these items simultaneously (i.e., one pallet per fork) is doable because the fork is sliding under the heaviest part of both pallets is just that--supposition. Not only could your forklift be terribly damaged by attempting this shortcut, but all of the goods on these pallets could be dropped and damaged too. (If you see an employee attempting to cut this corner, you should probably take him or her off forklift duty for a while.)
Forklifts Are Not Elevators
Forklifts are designed to support equal weight on both fork ends. One half of the fork (or one fork end) should not be used to support the weight of any object on its own. The weight could cause the entire forklift to topple sideways (if the object is heavy enough and the fork lift is high enough). For these reasons, a forklift should not be a substitute elevator for humans. It is also too dangerous to be riding the forklift this way because of the lack of safety features that would normally protect a person being elevated to a higher position. Use a scissors lift instead.
Forklifts Should Not Be Used to Pick up or Move Large, Live Animals
There have been a few controversial stories in the news lately which discuss the use of forklifts as devices to move and pick up large animals. While it may be a reasonable alternative solution for moving large, dead animals out of the way, forklifts should never be used for live animals. The forks of the forklift could injure the animals in an attempt to get them to stand up or keep moving. (Then you may have to answer to criminal charges of animal cruelty, even if the animals were headed to slaughter). Contact a business, such as Horizon Equipment Rentals, for more information.
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