Our engineering department use forklift as a lifting aid to carry out remedial work to steel frame modules. Basically they lift the module on the tines of the FLT and carry out welding work to the steel frame of the module. On occasions the work underneath the module while it is being raised by the FLT.


On seeing this I put a stop to it immediately as I seen it as an unsafe working practice. I need an alternative cost effective method to carry out this work safely. The department are under time constraints so slowing down the process will not be accepted.


My suggestion were to install racking that the module could be place on so the work could be carried out safely. This would be subject to rigourous testing under PUWER regs and a costly alternative.


Our engineers solution was to prop the shaft of the FLT with a pillar or mast either attached to the FLT or a stand alone piller that can be raised or lowered with the use of a pin through the mast. A very cost effective solution and alot of FLT maintenance companies use this method when carrying out remedial works to the tines/hydraulica of the FLT. If the hydraulics did fail in this case the pillar/mast wold be able to support the weight of the tines plus the weight of the module while they are working.


Another solution was to just place the module on the ground but then there is a manual handling issue as these modules are very heavy and often the damaged area is underneath the module.

Is anybody else out there aware of the proping the mast solution and whether it would be deemed as acceptable. It doesn't sit to well with me to be honest but seems the most practical method.

Anybody else out there who had a similiar problem and came up with a more robust practical solution?

I know which way I would prefer to go down...the more expensive but safer route of racking but I am looking for any alternative solutions.

I'm with the Smurf on this as there no indication when a failure may occur on the FLT's.


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