Lifting persons with a forklift may only be done exceptionally and with a work platform that meets all the requirements of annex 2 to BEK 428/2022. Here is the whole checklist with the figures from the annex: the requirements for the truck, the platform, the use and the test and logbook.
Introduction
As a rule, a forklift is for goods, not for people. Lifting people may only take place under special conditions and requires special equipment and precautions.
Persons may only be lifted with technical equipment designed for it (BEK 428/2022 § 59, subsection 1). With a forklift built for goods, it may only be done exceptionally: for short, light and occasional tasks, and when all the requirements of annex 2 are met (§ 59, subsection 3). While there are people in the platform, the driver's position must be manned at all times, the people must have a safe means of communication, and they must be able to be evacuated in a dangerous situation (§ 59, subsection 4).
The truck (annex 2, point 1)
- 01The lifting capacity at maximum lifting height must be at least 4 times the total maximum weight of platform and load (1.1).
- 02Truck types where the load's centre of gravity is within the base of support must weigh at least 2,000 kg including battery (1.2).
- 03The truck must be secured against overturning if a tyre punctures — e.g. with solid or puncture-proof tyres (1.3).
- 04The forks may be worn at most 5 % of the original thickness (1.4).
- 05The lowering speed must not exceed 0.5 m/s if the hydraulics burst (1.5).
- 06The truck must have a rotating warning light (1.6).
The work platform (annex 2, point 2)
- 01The platform must be removable — loosely mounted and not connected to the truck — and it counts as part of the load (2.1).
- 02Platform and load together may weigh at most 500 kg, and there may be at most 2 persons in the platform (2.2).
- 03The floor may be at most 1.2 × 1.2 m and at least 0.6 m² per person, and it must be tight and non-slip (2.3).
- 04Towards the mast there must be a transparent guard at least 1.9 m high with a 15 cm toe board, so that nobody can be trapped in the mast (2.4).
- 05The rest of the platform must have a guard rail at least 1 m high with a handrail and a knee rail and a 15 cm toe board, striped yellow/black on the outside (2.5).
- 06The gate must not open outwards, and it must close and lock by itself (2.6).
- 07There must be an anchorage point for fall protection for each person, and each point must be able to hold at least 3 kN (2.7).
- 08The platform must be held on the forks by two locking devices that can be seen from the platform (2.8).
- 09It must be possible to lower the platform quickly in an emergency from the floor or the ground (2.14).
- 10The work basket must not be CE-marked under EU machinery legislation (annex 2, item 2.16).
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