Considerations Before Purchasing a Forklift Work Platform

Forklift work platforms can be useful forklift attachments that can expand the capabilities of your vehicle. They allow workers to reach heights safely and comfortably, often replacing the need for other costly equipment such as scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and scaffolding.

Not all forklift work platforms are alike. Each has its own unique features and specifications. Before investing in work platform forklift attachments, businesses should take into account a number of important considerations that can help them buy the right tool for the job.

Weight Capacity

Most forklift work platforms are designed to accommodate two people of average weight. Each platform will be rated for a maximum capacity, listed in both pounds and kilograms.

Before buying a forklift work platform, consider who will be using it and how much they weight. If the workers who will likely be lifted in the platform are heavier than normal, you probably will want to account for this by purchasing a forklift attachment with a higher weight rating.

Another weight-related consideration is the maximum lifting capacity of the forklift itself. In order to accommodate the forklift work platform, the vehicle needs to have a load capacity equal to or higher than five times the combined weight of the platform and the workers inside of it.

Size of the Lift Platform

While the typical forklift lift platform can fit two average sized workers, some are designed for only one person while others can accommodate more.

How you plan to use your forklift lift platform will determine the size of the platform you need. If you only plan to use it for a single worker to change light bulbs or retrieve materials from upper shelves, you may not need as large a work platform as businesses that plan to use it for large ceiling paint jobs, working underneath manufacturing equipment, or other tasks that require multiple workers on it at the same time.

Fork Length

While some work platforms can be attached directly to the forklift’s masts, most feature sleeves that simply fit over the vehicles forks. Typically, these sleeves will then be secured via a safety chain or bolt.

Before you buy a forklift lift platform, make sure it is designed to fit on your existing forklift’s forks. If you buy a lift platform that is too large or too small, you may not be able to use it safely, if at all.

Getting the right forklift lift platform for your business’s specific needs can improve efficiency and productivity. Just make sure you do your due diligence before you make the decision to buy.