Check that the delivery suits the equipment
Interpret the marked capacity using the manufacturer’s loading conditions. The goods are not the only weight: pallets, handling equipment and any people permitted on the platform also contribute. Load position on the platform can limit what is acceptable for that particular lift.
The location needs firm ground, deployment space and enough room to manoeuvre. Slopes, kerbs, potholes and traffic can turn a familiar delivery into an unsafe task. Exchange this information before dispatch rather than leaving every decision until the driver is already unloading at the destination.
Prevent falls and uncontrolled load movement
The platform is not simply an extension of the ground. Its edges require protection appropriate to the use, and the surface must retain suitable slip resistance. Marking an edge helps identify it but is not equivalent to a physical barrier that prevents a fall.
Wheeled loads and Manual and powered pallet trucks may roll or overturn during changes in level. Stability, visibility, wheel and pallet condition and the effort needed to control movement all matter. A person must not be expected to stop a load with their body once it is moving towards an edge.
Keep the operator clear of mechanisms
Controls should allow movement to be managed from a safe position with a view of the platform. Gaps between the lift, vehicle, articulated arms and ground can create crushing hazards. A remote control does not make a position inside the danger zone safe.
Keep pedestrians and untrained people offering assistance away from the operation. Irregular lowering, leakage or damaged components require withdrawal from use and the fault procedure. Do not improvise supports or use another machine to replace a defective hydraulic system.
Inspect the equipment and complete the operation
Inspection of work equipment and maintenance should cover the structure, drive system, guards and retaining devices. Work beneath raised elements requires energy control and manufacturer-specified support. Before travelling, confirm that the platform is stowed and secured. Looking folded is not proof that its locking arrangement has engaged or that the vehicle is ready to move safely.
