Forklift Platforms
Industrial lift trucks (or forklifts) are designed to move materials, not people. Platforms attached to forklifts can be used to provide access to work at heights if proper steps are taken to ensure both the platform and the forklift are safely set up, used, operated and maintained.
A forklift platform is defined as a work platform supported on an industrial lift truck’s forks.
As an employer, you must ensure:
A forklift platform is securely attached to the lift truck to prevent accidental movement of the platform or tipping of the forklift.
- Forklift platforms are designed and constructed to be strong enough to safely support any likely load.
- Manufactured platforms, are set up, used, maintained, and dismantled according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Industrial lift trucks supporting forklift platforms are on a firm flat surface to ensure the truck's stability.
- Industrial lift trucks are operated by a competent person.
- Forklift platforms have guardrails, except where it is not practical.
- When there are no guardrails, employees are provided and must use a travel restraint system or fall-arresting system. The system must be attached to an anchor point provided by the manufacturer or approved by an engineer.
- Any fall-arresting systems in use must not interfere with raising or lowering the platform.
While the employer is ultimately responsible for all the provisions mentioned above, the supervisor has a vital role to play in the safety of their teams. As a supervisor, you must:
- Acquaint your employees with the hazards and control measures associated with their work
- Provide the information and instruction necessary to ensure their health and safety
- Enforce company safety rules, programs, codes of practice and procedures, including ensuring employees comply with the requirements below.
Operators of industrial lift trucks with a forklift platform raised more than 1.2 m with someone on the platform must:
Employees cannot be on a forklift platform unless:
- The lift truck is on a firm flat surface.
- The platform has guardrails or a travel restraint system or fall-arresting system.
When travel restraint or fall-arresting systems are used, the employer must ensure that:
- Fall protection requirements that apply are followed (rescue plan, training, etc.).
- Industrial lift trucks used to support the forklift platform meet the industrial lift truck requirements.
“competent” means
- (a) qualified, because of such factors as knowledge, training and experience, to do assigned work in a manner that will ensure the health and safety of persons,
- (b) knowledgeable about the provisions of the Act and the regulations that apply to the assigned work, and
- (c) knowledgeable about potential or actual danger to health or safety connected with the assigned work
“guardrail” means an assembly of components joined together to form a barrier that is designed to prevent an employee from falling off the edge of a surface, but excludes a permanent guardrail system; [N.B. Reg. 91-191, s.1]
“travel restraint system” means an assembly of components designed to prevent an employee from reaching an unguarded edge or an opening. [N.B. Reg. 91-191, s.1]
“fall-arresting system” means a permanent or temporary assembly of fall-protection components designed to arrest the fall of one or more employees.
“anchor point” means the part of a permanent or temporary structure or of a component attached to such a structure to which fall-protection components are connected or suspended equipment components are connected; [N.B. Reg. 91-191, s.1]
General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety
Act
N.B. Reg. 91-191
Part XI TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
Section 129.1 Forklift Platforms
129.1 (1) In this section,
"forklift platform" means a work platform that is supported on the forks of an industrial lift truck.
(2) An employer shall ensure that a forklift platform
(a) is securely attached to the lift truck so as to prevent accidental movement of the platform or the tipping of the forklift,
(b) is designed and constructed of material of sufficient strength to support safely the loads to which it may be subjected, and
(c) if a manufactured platform, is erected, used, maintained and dismantled in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
(3) An employer shall ensure that an industrial lift truck supporting a forklift platform
(a) is on a firm flat surface to ensure the truck's stability, and
(b) is operated by a competent person.
(4) An employer shall ensure that a forklift platform is equipped with guardrails.
(5) Despite subsection (4), if it is not practical to install guardrails when an employee is required to work from a moving forklift platform, the employer shall provide and the employee shall use a travel restraint system or fall-arresting system attached to an anchor point provided by the manufacturer or approved by an engineer.
(6) When a fall-arresting system is used, the employer shall ensure that the fall-arresting system does not interfere with the raising and lowering of the platform.
[N.B. Reg. 2001-33, s. 40; 2010-159, s. 24; 2022-27, s. 31]
Section 129.2
129.2 A person who operates an industrial lift truck with a forklift platform shall, if the platform is elevated more than 1.2 m and there is a person on the platform,
(a) not move the truck, and
(b) remain at the controls of the truck.
[N.B. Reg. 2001-33, s. 40]
Section 129.3
129.3 (1) An employee shall not work on a forklift platform unless
(a) the industrial lift truck is on a firm flat surface, and
(b) the platform is equipped with guardrails or a travel restraint system or fall-arresting system.
(2) Repealed. [N.B. Reg. 2010-159, s. 25]
[N.B. Reg. 2001-33, s. 40; 2010-159, s. 25]