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Article: Tip-proofing: a forklift maker takes control of the wheel.
- Article from:
- Mechanical Engineering-CIME
- Article date:
- March 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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FORKLIFT ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES CAUSE nearly 100 deaths and another 20,000 serious injuries every year, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. A quarter of the fatalities are attributed to injuries from overturning vehicles.
Differences in geometries make four-wheel forklifts more stable than three-wheelers. But, because they cost less and maneuver better, three-wheelers manage to dominate the market. Even with four wheels, a fork truck in the hands of a careless driver can struggle to keep its tires pressed firmly to the ground. Operator diligence is a key factor in forklift safety.
Concerns about overturning ...