Bit more info please - depends from what and where to; ie unloading from a lorry or raising from the ground up on to a hopper... There are different 'best practise' for different scenarios.

Thanks for the feedback, good information there. More info: This is specifically relating to the movement of bulk bags with a factory from storage to where the contents are to be used. Bags weigh c.1000kg. In storage bags are stacked to a height of 3 or 4 bags. Manual assistance is provided to the fork lift to thread bag loops onto fork lift. This involves worker standing on adjacent bags and leaning over (clearly work at height and struck by issues in play here). So really wanted to check any requirements / best practice regarding the loading and movement of these bags from storage including use of appropriate loading equipment and safe methods for threading bags loops onto a fork lift.

Most useful Andrew, thank you. No mention in the guidance about the mechanisms for threading the bag loops on to the tines. This is the specifics of my query really, is it really acceptable to have someone help thread the loops onto the tines, especially if the bags are stacked?

Bulk bags have for some time come with forklift pockets on either side. We often need to move bulk sand and similar. We now specify these for these loads so they can be unloaded and transported without the dynamic loading of the bag swinging on the tines. They are called sleeve bags or lifting sleeve bags I you are looking to specify them.

Thanks for the info, think there are some safety issues with these bags but these can be easily managed with a bit of forethought. Andrew - like your solution of storing on pallets. Does this have any impact on the stability / integrity of the storage pyramid? For it too be effective it will be necessary for the pallets to remain horizontal for the tines to access. Have you had any issues with this?

Interesting and good to know. Of course this comes down to effective management of change.