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725 Forklift Safety Program Management
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Driving on an Incline

If you drive a forklift on an incline, you must keep the load on the uphill side.

Keep the load uphill to maintain control of the forklift.

Otherwise, you may have no weight on the wheels that steer and can lose control. The load could also fall off or cause the forklift to tip.

Operator procedures that reduce the risk of overturn, collision or loss of the load use the following procedures:

  • Make sure the load is stable and safely arranged on the forks.
  • Do not tilt the forks forward except when picking up or depositing a load.
  • Tilt the load backward only enough to stabilize the load.
  • Keep the load low just above the pavement with forks tilted back when traveling.
  • Cross railroad tracks diagonally when possible.
  • Enter elevators squarely.
  • Keep the load uphill when going up or down an incline.
  • Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop safely within the stability triangle.
  • Slow down on wet or slippery surfaces.
  • Slow down to make turns.
  • Avoid driving over loose objects or on surfaces with ruts and holes.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-7. Keep the load _____ with forks tilted back when traveling.