Rank: Forum user 
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I have a client who has purchased a mobile hydraulic work platform. It is used to unload containers and trailer. The operator walks onto the platform, raises it to the height of the container, unloads the container contents onto a pallet; he moves the pallet onto the platform; he then lowers the platform and the pallet is taken off with a FLT. When the platform is in the raised position, fixed handrails provide fall protection.
To speed up the process, the handrails have been removed to enable the FLT to remove the pallet without having to lower the platform; this exposes the guys on the platform to a fall from the unprotected edge. The client has instructed and trained the operatives (via SSW) to stand back from the open edge and not go near it. Is this acceptable (SFARP); I say no, but would like the views of fellow professionals.
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Rank: Super forum user
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No, the designer/manufacturer of the hydraulic platform has recognised that there is a risk of operators falling from height. Quite rightly has designed suitable guard rails to mitigate the risk.
The current operator isn't using the equipment as designed/intended. No doubt it will say in the provided information book/manual provided with the hydraulic platform that the equipment shouldn't be used without the hand rail in place.
The operator would have to use at least as good a method of fall protection, training/SSW is lower down the hierarchy of controls.
If an operator fall off, there should be a nice claim for injury, I would think. How high is the potential fall?
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Rank: Forum user
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The height of platform when being used is 1.6m. Slightly higher than a vehicle tail lift, which by the way do not have fall prevention fitted; I agree removing the hand rails exposes the company to possible litigation and prosecution in event someone falls off.
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Rank: Forum user
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Without seeing the process it is always difficult to tell but the phrase 'handrails have been removed' certainly sounds alarm bells and I think it would be very difficult to justify doing so without any alternative controls beyond a glorified 'be careful'.
One question though. The operator is loading a pallet form the container, can the items be palletised for delivery and save the manual handling and pallet loading operation altogether? I'm assuming you are talking about lorry or rail containers here?
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Rank: Forum user
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I suggested having the items already palletised, but it is cost. The product comes by sea from middle east, and the pallets take up valuable product space. The container is packed full of boxes, all to be hand balled onto pallets.
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Rank: Forum user
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Its common practice to go into the rear of a trailer and stack product onto pallets which are then removed by a FLT (normally with pump truck in the trailer to move the pallets to the front.
You can purchase frames which go on the rear of the trailer with steps just for this process. The frame will have a FLT lifting point
The process its self is not a major issue but the modification of safety equipment (handrails) might be.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Also when the full pallet is taken off I assume an empty one is put back on the platform by FLT. Where is the unloading person stood at this point ?
When loading onto the pallet do they have to walk around the pallet to do so or can they reach from one side ? If they are walking about they are getting closer to the exposed edge when they do (or if they trip).
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Rank: Forum user
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The container is packed to the rear doors, so a platform is needed until the guys have got into the container, so the first two pallets are packed on the platform with the pallet close to the edge ready for the FLT, where they are instructed not to approach the edge although they lean over to put boxes on the pallet close to the edge; but once they get into the container they load the pallet inside and move the pallet to the edge of the platform, keeping behind the pallet truck handles away from the platform edge
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Rank: Forum user
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We undertake very similar tasks (Containers and Trailers), we have a platform that goes to the back, it then has an access area for the FLT, with a lifting barrier.
We have also recent invested in a gravity conveyor that works with the platform and the guys stack the goods onto the pallets at ground level. The conveyor was around £7K, but it also improved unloading speed as well as safety.
Historically we did have a guy fall off and fracture his wrist and arm when the platform in use was timber and the back lift out barrier (4x2!!!) went missing, hence the change to more robust, designed, tested platforms. Go back even further and I believe the task used to be done by just standing on a stack of pallets
You can buy them, but we chose to get the manufactured to our specification locally and it was at least half the price.
We also use loading docks at some sites, but not all sites have them.
PM me your e-mail address and I can send you some pictures of what we had made
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rob35 wrote:...
You can buy them, but we chose to get the manufactured to our specification locally and it was at least half the price.
...
I hope that it is correctly & adequately CE marked! ;)
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Forum user
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Why Handrails should be in place !
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