622 Forklift Competent Person

Glossary

A

• Articulating Boom. A hydraulic lifting arm that bends or "articulates" to reach over obstacles, allowing forklifts and similar vehicles to extend reach at various angles.
• Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). A self-guided vehicle used to transport materials through designated paths in a facility without human intervention, often part of automated material handling systems.
• Automatic Fork Leveling System. A feature in forklifts that automatically adjusts the tilt of the forks to level, helping operators achieve balanced and stable lifting.

B

• Backup Alarm. An audible warning device that sounds when the forklift is moving in reverse, alerting pedestrians and other workers in the area.
• Battery Capacity. The amount of electrical energy a forklift battery can store, typically measured in ampere-hours (Ah). Higher capacity allows for longer operation between charges, important for productivity and efficiency in powered industrial truck use.
• Battery Compartment. The area on an electric forklift where the battery is housed, often including access panels and secure latches for safe installation and maintenance.
• Battery Exchange. The process of swapping a discharged battery with a fully charged one in electric forklifts to minimize downtime. Battery exchange stations are often used in high-demand operations.
• Battery Watering System. A system designed to automatically maintain the correct water level in a forklift battery, extending battery life and improving performance.
• Brake Fluid. A hydraulic fluid used in forklift braking systems to transmit force and create the pressure required for braking.

C

• Cab Enclosure. A protective enclosure for the operator, often used on outdoor or rough-terrain forklifts to provide shelter and improve operator safety.
• Capacity. The maximum load weight that a forklift or powered industrial truck can safely handle, as specified by the manufacturer. Exceeding this weight may lead to tipping or loss of control, posing safety hazards.
• Center of Gravity. The point on an object at which all of the object's weight is concentrated. For symmetrical loads, the center of gravity is at the middle of the load.
• Carousel System. A type of automated storage and retrieval system in which materials are transported in a rotating sequence, allowing for efficient picking and storage.
• Charging Station. A designated area where electric forklifts and battery-operated equipment are recharged, often equipped with power supplies and safety equipment.
• Clamp Attachment. An attachment that provides gripping capabilities, enabling forklifts to handle loads such as barrels, rolls, or boxes without pallets.
• Conveyor System. A mechanical handling device that transports materials across a facility using rollers, belts, or chains, commonly used in warehouses and production lines.
• Counterweight. The weight that is built into the truck's basic structure and is used to offset the load's weight and to maximize the vehicle's resistance to tipping over.
• Cross Docking. The process of unloading materials from incoming trucks and directly loading them onto outbound trucks with minimal or no storage time.

D

• Deadman Switch. A safety feature that automatically cuts power or stops the machine when the operator releases control, preventing unintended movement or operation.
• Diesel Fuel. A type of fuel commonly used in heavy-duty forklifts, especially those intended for outdoor or rough-terrain use.
• Dock Leveler. A platform that bridges the gap between a loading dock and a truck bed, allowing forklifts to move safely between the dock and truck.
• Dock Operations. The procedures and activities involved in loading and unloading materials at a dock, often including safety protocols and equipment usage.
• Drive Axle. The axle that connects the forklift’s engine or motor to its wheels, providing propulsion.
• Duplex Mast. A two-stage mast on a forklift, allowing for lifting to a greater height without extending the mast fully.

E

• Electric Forklift. A forklift powered by rechargeable batteries rather than an internal combustion engine, offering lower emissions and reduced noise levels.

F

• Fleet Management System. A system that monitors and manages a fleet of forklifts or other vehicles, tracking metrics like usage, maintenance needs, and fuel levels to improve efficiency.
• Fork Positioner. An attachment that enables operators to adjust the spacing of the forks without leaving the operator’s seat, improving efficiency and versatility.
• Fork Spread. The adjustable distance between the forks on a forklift, allowing for accommodation of different load sizes and stability requirements.
• Forklift Inspection. The pre-operational and routine inspection of a forklift to check for mechanical or safety issues, mandated by OSHA to ensure safe operation.
• Four-Wheel Forklift. A forklift with four wheels, providing stability and maneuverability for both indoor and outdoor use, often for handling heavier loads.
• Fulcrum. The truck's axis of rotation when it tips over.

G

• Grade. The slope of a surface, which is usually measured as the number of feet of rise or fall over a hundred foot horizontal distance (the slope is expressed as a percent).
• Gravity Flow Rack. A type of storage system that uses gravity to move pallets or containers from the loading to the unloading end, maximizing storage space.
• Gross Capacity. The maximum combined weight that a forklift can safely lift and transport, including the load and any attachments.

H

• High Capacity Forklift. A forklift designed to handle heavier loads than standard models, often used in industries like construction or shipping for moving large equipment and materials.
• Hour Meter. A device that records the total hours of operation of a forklift, used to track maintenance intervals and monitor equipment usage.

I

J

L

• Lateral Stability. The truck's resistance to overturning sideways.
• Layer Picker. An attachment that allows forklifts to pick up a single layer of goods from a pallet, often used in distribution centers to handle mixed pallets.
• Lift Truck. Another term for a forklift, emphasizing its primary function of lifting and transporting loads.
• Line of Action. The imaginary vertical line through an object's center of gravity.
• Load Center. The horizontal distance from the load's edge (or the fork's or other attachment's vertical face) to the line of action through the load's center of gravity.
• Load Moment Indicator. A device that monitors the load's weight and distance from the fulcrum to ensure it does not exceed safe limits, preventing tipping accidents.
• Load Sensing System. A system that detects changes in load weight and center of gravity, adjusting the forklift’s performance for improved safety and stability.
• Load Stabilizer. An attachment that helps to secure loads during transport, minimizing movement and shifting.
• Longitudinal Stability. The truck's resistance to overturning forward or rearward.
• LP Gas. Liquefied petroleum gas, commonly used as a fuel source for forklifts, providing a clean-burning alternative to gasoline or diesel.

M

• Man Basket. A platform attachment that allows forklifts to safely lift personnel for tasks such as inventory or maintenance.
• Mast Rollers. Rollers located on the mast that facilitate the smooth movement of the carriage up and down.
• Material Handling. The movement, protection, storage, and control of materials throughout manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution.
• Moment. The product of the object's weight times the distance from a fixed point (usually the fulcrum). In the case of a powered industrial truck, the distance is measured from the point at which the truck will tip over to the object's line of action. The distance is always measured perpendicular to the line of action.

N

• Narrow Aisle Operations. Forklift operations in tight spaces, requiring specialized equipment like reach trucks or order pickers to navigate safely.
• Net Capacity. The load-carrying capacity of a forklift when accounting for additional equipment or attachments.
• Non-Marking Tires. Tires made from a special rubber compound that leaves no marks on floors, commonly used in indoor environments.

O

• Order Picker. A forklift designed to lift operators to elevated racks to manually select inventory for order fulfillment.

P

• Pallet. A flat transport structure used to support goods in a stable manner while being lifted by forklifts or pallet jacks.
• Pallet Jack. A type of hand truck with wheels and a hydraulic lifting mechanism, designed for lifting and moving palletized loads.
• Pallet Racking. A storage system with multiple levels designed to hold palletized goods, maximizing space in warehouses.
• Pantograph. A reach mechanism in some forklifts that allows the forks to extend and retract horizontally, useful in narrow aisle storage.
• Pedestrian Alert System. A safety system that warns pedestrians of an approaching forklift, often using visual or audible alarms.
• Personnel Platform. A platform that attaches to forklifts to lift workers for high-level tasks such as maintenance or stock counting.
• Polyurethane Tires. Durable tires made from polyurethane material, commonly used in indoor forklifts for smooth and non-marking operation.
• Pre-Operation Inspection. A checklist-based inspection performed by the operator before using a forklift to ensure it is safe and operationally sound.
• Proximity Sensor. A sensor used on forklifts to detect objects or people nearby, enhancing safety by alerting the operator of potential obstacles or hazards in close proximity.

Q

R

• Ramp Operations. The use of forklifts and other material handling equipment on inclined surfaces or ramps, requiring special techniques and safety precautions to prevent tipping or sliding.
• Rated Capacity. The maximum weight that a forklift can safely lift under specific conditions as defined by the manufacturer. This rating must be strictly followed to avoid accidents.
• Reach Mechanism. A component on reach trucks that allows the forks to extend outward to access loads located deep within racking, commonly used in narrow aisle operations.
• Reach Truck. A type of narrow aisle forklift designed with an extendable carriage, enabling operators to reach loads located deep within storage racks.
• Retractable Mast. A mast design that allows the mast to retract for compact storage or extend to reach higher lifting heights. Commonly used in narrow aisles or confined spaces.
• RFID System. A technology using radio frequency identification to track pallets, forklifts, and inventory within a warehouse for improved inventory management and operational efficiency.
• Roll Prong. A forklift attachment with a single, long, cylindrical arm, ideal for handling rolled materials such as carpets, fabric rolls, or wire coils.
• Rotator. A forklift attachment that enables the operator to rotate the forks, allowing for dumping or rotating loads for precise positioning.
• Rough Terrain Forklift. A forklift designed with large, rugged tires and powerful engines, suitable for operation on uneven surfaces and outdoor environments.

S

• Side Loader Forklift. A type of forklift with forks mounted on the side, designed to carry long or bulky loads down narrow aisles.
• Simplex Mast. A single-stage mast with no free lift, commonly used when height requirements are low and overhead clearance is not a concern.
• Solid Tires. Non-pneumatic tires often made from rubber or polyurethane, designed for indoor use and smooth surfaces. They are durable and do not deflate like pneumatic tires.
• Stability Triangle. A concept that explains the stability of a forklift, based on the three points that form a triangle between the front wheels and the pivot point of the rear axle. Understanding the stability triangle is crucial for safe load handling.
• Stand-Up Forklift. A type of forklift where the operator stands rather than sits, typically used in narrow aisle and high-density storage areas.

T

• Telehandler. A type of forklift with an extendable boom, capable of lifting loads to great heights and across obstacles, commonly used in construction.
• Telescopic Boom. An extendable arm on certain forklifts and telehandlers that provides additional reach for loading and unloading.
• Tilt Control. A lever or control on the forklift that adjusts the tilt of the mast and forks, allowing the operator to safely balance loads and prevent slippage.
• Tilt Cylinder. A hydraulic cylinder that adjusts the tilt angle of the forklift mast, providing the ability to angle the load for stability and handling.
• Tilt Tray Sorter. A conveyor system that uses trays that tilt to divert packages onto different lanes, typically used in distribution centers for automated sorting.
• Track. The distance between the wheels on the same axle of the truck.
• Triplex Mast. A three-stage mast design that allows for greater lifting height while maintaining a compact lowered height, providing versatility in confined spaces.
• Turntable. A rotating platform used in material handling to reposition loads without moving the entire forklift, often used in conveyor systems or loading docks.

U

V

W

• Walkie Stacker. A type of electric pallet jack with an extendable mast, allowing operators to lift pallets to higher shelves; typically operated by walking behind the unit.
• Wheelbase. The distance between the centerline of the vehicle's front and rear wheels.

X

Y

• Yard Truck. A vehicle specifically designed to move trailers and containers within a shipping yard or distribution facility, often used for organizing trailers in staging areas.

Z