Do you find you read so many things in so may different publications that when you want to confirm exactly where it is written you can no longer find it ? or is it only me ( I’m not that old, I shouldn’t be losing my marbles just yet). I have just spent the last hour trying to find where I read that you should not tow ( or push) things with a fork lift truck. I’ve been through L117 and HSG06 and the HSE web site nothing on the subject. Google brought up some training company’s that say you should not, but nothing official. I was convinced I had read it in one of the above documents, but it appears not. In fact I’m so convinced that I will check again tomorrow, even though I used the find option on the PDF’s. Does this happen to you ( at least on selected days?) Off to find where I left that padded cell or perhaps just less coffee. Chris

Yes. I don't think it can be in HSE publications since here is a quote from a FLT training company and they would normally be quick to back up their point with regulation/guidance if it existed: "forklift trucks are not really designed to tow as part of their function. Now this does not mean that the forklift should be used to tow a trailer or other vehicle. The reason as to why a forklift may have a tow bar or hook is as a method of assistance should it break down. The hook or tow bar will make it a lot easier for a forklift truck to be recovered. For health and safety reasons we heavily suggest that you do not use your forklift truck for towing. This is largely due to the fact that that most of the trucks have rear wheel steering and braking on the front wheels only making it highly restrictive"

Try the BITA Lifting Industry Standards - Operator's Safety Code for Powered Industrial Trucks. Section 19: "Do not tow, drag or push other vehicles or loads unless proper attachments are fitted and used" I can't remember seeing it in any ACOPS / HSE Publications, but my memory is as bad as yours so that's not to say it isn't :)

#6 I won them while I was at school. There's probably some H&S rule about flicking glass marbles into one another in this day and age, but acceptable school yard entertainment back then. So I guess once lost, irreplaceable. :o)