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WorkSafeBC Standard 13.30 Work Platforms Supported by Lift Trucks
© Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, or distributed for profit or other commercial enterprise, nor may any part be incorporated into any other publication, without written permission of the Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.
WorkSafeBC Standard: 13.30 Work Platforms Supported by Lift Trucks (February 2008)
1. Scope
1.1 This standard sets out the minimum requirements for the design and use of a work platform supported by a lift truck to elevate personnel.
1.2 This standard does not apply to an order picker or operator-up high lift truck designed to lift personnel.
2. Definitions
2.1 The definitions set out in Part 3 of CSA Standard B335-04 Safety standard for lift trucks apply to this standard.
3. Lift Truck Requirements
3.1 The lift truck used to support a work platform must meet the requirements of CSA Standard B335-04 Safety standard for lift trucks. (Note: CSA Standard B335-04 incorporates the design and construction requirements of ANSI/ASME B56.1 Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks and ANSI/ASME B56.6 Safety Standard for Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks, so a lift truck manufactured to meet the applicable ANSI standard meets the requirements of CSA Standard B335-04.)
3.2 The lift truck must be in good working order with all controls and functions operating in accordance with the manufacturer's specification, the requirements of the applicable safety standard, and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (“OHSR”).
3.3 Forks must be secured against tilting and dislodgement.
3.4 If the lift truck uses a hydraulic or pneumatic system to raise the fork carriage the system must be equipped to prevent unintended descent of the carriage in excess of 0.6 metres per second in the event of hydraulic or pneumatic line failure.
4. Platform Requirements
4.1 The work platform must be built by the manufacturer to meet the requirements of the applicable lift truck safety standard or custom designed by a professional engineer in accordance with design criteria from the applicable lift truck safety standard. A custom designed work platform must be certified by a professional engineer as having been built in conformance with the engineer's design.
4.2 The work platform must be legibly marked to show
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(a) The name of the manufacturer or the certifying engineer
(b) If a manufactured work platform, the part number or serial number to allow the design of the work platform to be linked to the manufacturer's documentation
(c) If a custom built work platform, a unique identification number or code that links to the design and certification documentation from the engineer
(d) The safety standard the work platform was designed to meet
(e) The weight of the work platform when empty
(f) The rated load that may be placed on the work platform (the maximum combined weight of the people, tools, and materials permitted on the work platform)
(g) The minimum rated capacity of the lift truck needed to safely handle the work platform either by specifying the make and model of lift truck(s) that may be used with the platform or by specifying the minimum wheel track and lift truck capacity (Note clause 5.7 of this standard requires the lift truck must have a minimum rated capacity of at least two times the weight of the work platform plus the rated load for a high lift truck and at least three times the weight of the work platform plus the rated load for a rough terrain forklift truck.)
4.3 The means or method for securing the work platform to the forks or fork carriage must be specified by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
4.4 There must be a means to prevent the work platform and carriage from rotating and pivoting.
4.5 The floor of the work platform must have a slip resistant surface located not more than 200 mm (8 inches) above the normal load supporting surface of the forks.
4.6 The work platform floor depth, measured from the front to the back, must not exceed two times the load centre distance specified on the lift truck data plate. The work platform width must not be greater than the overall width of the lift truck measured to the outside of the load bearing tires, or to the outside of the stabilizers if they are to be used, plus 250 mm (10 inches) on either side of the tires or stabilizers as applicable.
4.7 If a particular application requires a work platform with dimensions greater than specified in clause 4.6, a professional engineer must design the work platform and limit its maximum rated load to ensure the work platform and lift truck system will maintain stability at least equivalent to the stability performance a work platform meeting clause 4.6 would provide consistent with the factors specified in clause 5.7.
4.8 There must be guardrail or equivalent protection on all sides of the platform. Guardrails or equivalent protection must meet the requirements of Part 4 of the OHSR. If due to the nature of the work task to be done, guardrails or equivalent protection is not practicable for one or more sides of the work platform, there must be designated anchor points on the work platform for the securing of personal fall protection systems. There must be sufficient anchor capacity or individual anchors to allow for the maximum permitted number of work platform occupants to secure their personal fall protection systems. Personal fall protection systems must meet the requirements of Part 11 of the OHSR.
4.9 The work platform must be constructed so it does not cause a hazard to the occupants and so the occupants cannot reach any hazard created by movement of the lifting mechanism of the lift truck.
5. Use Requirements
5.1 The instructions from the manufacturer or designer relating to the safe use of the work platform must be available in the workplace.
5.2 The lift truck and work platform must be in good condition and in compliance with the OHSR prior to the use of the system to raise personnel.
5.3 The lift truck must be operated by a qualified operator authorized by the employer to use the lift truck to raise personnel in the work platform.
5.4 The work platform must be secured to the forks or fork carriage in the manner specified by the work platform manufacturer or a professional engineer.
5.5 If the carriage of the lift truck can rotate or pivot, these functions must be disabled to prevent the work platform and carriage from rotating and pivoting.
5.6 A trial lift must be performed at each task location immediately prior to raising personnel in the work platform to ensure the lift truck can be positioned on an appropriate supporting surface, there is sufficient reach to position the work platform to allow the task to be done, and the mast is vertical or the boom travels vertically. The tilt function for the mast may be used to assist with final positioning the work platform at the task location but the mast must travel in a vertical plane. The trial lift must ensure adequate clearance can be maintained between the work platform and the elevating mechanism of the lift truck and any surrounding object such as a structure, overhead obstruction, storage rack, or scaffold, and from any hazard such as energized electrical wires and equipment.
5.7 The weight of the work platform plus the maximum rated load for the work platform must not exceed one half the rated capacity of a high lift truck or one third the rated capacity of a rough terrain forklift truck for the reach and configuration being used.
5.8 A system for communication between the work platform occupants and the lift truck operator must be implemented to control work platform movement. If there is more than one occupant on the work platform, one person on the work platform must be designated to be the primary person to signal the lift truck operator regarding work platform movement requests. If hand and arm signals are not the main communication method, a system of hand and arm signals must be developed as an alternative in the event the primary voice or other electronic communication means becomes ineffective during work platform use.
5.9 The work platform must be lowered to floor or grade level before a person gets on or leaves the platform.
5.10 Personnel must not be transported in the work platform, including between task locations.
5.11 If the work platform does not have guardrail or equivalent protection on all sides, each work platform occupant must use an appropriate personal fall protection system secured to a designated anchor point on the work platform.
5.12 Platform occupants must work from the platform surface and must not stand on the guardrails or use other devices to increase the effective working height of the work platform.
5.13 Whenever the work platform is occupied, the lift truck operator must remain within 3 metres (10 feet) of the lift truck controls and in visual contact with the lift truck and work platform and in communication with the work platform occupants.
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