What is the center of gravity on a forklift?
According to OSHA, “The load center is the distance from the face of the forks to the load’s center of gravity.” It is important for operators and managers to understand the forklift load’s center of gravity in order to operate and transport loads safely in their operations.
What will happen if the combined center of gravity of the forklift and the load move outside the stability triangle?
Any time the forklift’s center of gravity moves outside the stability triangle, the lift will tip over. If the bottom of this line goes outside of the stability triangle – because a load is too heavy or too high, or because the forklift is not on a level surface – it will tip over.
What happens to the combined center of gravity of a forklift when a load is picked up?
The Forklift’s Center The lift truck also has a center of gravity, which shifts once the truck picks up a load. When the load is lifted, the center of gravity moves forward.
How much can a standard forklift lift?
Forklift capacities range from about 3,000 lbs up to more than 70,000+ lbs. You can find the rated capacity of a forklift on its data plate. OSHA requires “only loads within the rated capacity of a truck shall be handled.” It’s easy to think the rated capacity is the same as maximum capacity, but it’s not that simple.
Can a lift truck with a 5000 lb capacity at a 24 load center Lift the following load?
A 5,000-lb. capacity forklift will lift that much weight up to 48-inch forks (with a 24-inch load center) but going out to 60 inches (with a 30-inch load center), for example, drops the capacity to 4,000 pounds. Increasing the load center distance too far can cause a forklift to tip.
When should you use plugging to stop the forklift?
Forklift plugging is beneficial when the equipment is designed for the feature, decreasing brake wear. If your forklift is battery powered, it is very likely that plugging is a good practice, but engine powered forklifts should not be plugged.