Basic Forklift Components

Forklifts have differences and similarities. Be sure to read your forklift operator's manual and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Basic forklift components include the following:

• Carriage
• Forks
• Hydraulic system
• Lifting chain
• Mast
• Overhead guard

The mast does the work of raising, lowering, and tilting the load. The mast supports the carriage, which is made of flat metal plates that move along the mast by chains or are directly attached to the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic lift cylinder supplies the power to lift the load.

Types of masts include simplex, duplex, triplex, and quad. A simplex mast has limited free lift of four to six inches. Free lift is the distance the forks go up before the mast is extended. Duplex, triplex, and quad masts have free lift of 50 to 60 inches and each type has greater mast extension. They can load and unload higher-tiered stacks than simplex masts. Quad masts have the greatest mast extension. Because the lifting capacity of the forklift decreases as its load is raised, quad masts in particular require special precautions at the highest lifting heights.

Some masts reduce operator visibility considerably more than others when unloaded, and a load reduces visibility even further. Do not operate a forklift if you cannot see where you are going. Operators should use a spotter whenever necessary and travel with the load trailing whenever possible.

The forks (also known as tines or blades) are attached to the carriage and carry the load. Never operate a forklift with damaged, significantly worn, or asymmetric forks.

Various attachments, such as sideshifters, clamps, and personnel platforms, are often used in place of traditional forks. Such attachments affect the forklift's stability, capacity, and visibility, and an unloaded forklift with an attachment should always be treated as partially loaded.

An overhead guard is designed to protect the operator from falling objects, but operators should understand that such guards are not built to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load. Operators should wear hardhats as an additional safety precaution. To minimize the possibility of a load or part of it from falling rearward, a load backrest extension (not pictured) should be used behind the forks whenever necessary.

To learn more about Forklift Safety visit our Forklift Safety Online Training web page.