A CLEVER add-on has turned the forklift into a viable, safe solution to working at heights in the manufacturing environment.
For many businesses, a fork lift provides a readily accessible means of manually accessing heights for maintenance, elevated stock checking, and other working at height tasks.
The practice of climbing onto the forklift for these tasks, however, can be a major occupational health and safety risk.
Melbourne based materials handling equipment supplier Team Systems has made this practice safer by manufacturing a folding safety cage which is designed to accept the forks of fork lift truck.
The company’s folding safety cage and work platforms are designed to carry up to two people, or a total load of 250 kg, with a dimension of 1.2 m2 and a cage height of 1 m.
The side to be fitted closest to the mast of the forklift also has a 2.2 m high safety screen.
Designed to comply with Australian Standard AS 2359.1, the cage has an inward opening self closing door, an internal hand rail and has safety chains fitted.
There are also toe boards on all sides, with the unit fabricated mostly from 40 mm square steel tube and steel mesh, with a powder coated paint finish.
The unit is also designed to fit full length sleeves of forks, and retaining pins further secure the unit safely in position.
The cage, in its collapsible and folding version, can be reduced to a compact flat pack in minutes.
The cages can be supplied with or without an optional safety harness for further restraint.
While the restraint is not mandatory, it is designed for fall or arrest protection up to a weight of 136 kg, with an energy absorbing 1.8 m lanyard.
According to Team Systems managing director Shane Poulton, the folding safety cage and work platforms offer the only safe and authority approved way of lifting personnel to a height by using a forklift truck.
“Our cage is available in standard and folding versions, which suits many businesses that do not have access to, or the need for, an elevating work platform,” he said.
“Most of the major hire companies are adding them to their equipment to complement their hire of fork lift trucks.”
Key contact:
Team Systems
dandenong@teamsytems.net.au
www.teamsystems.net.au