1. UC Davis R. A. Wachter Safety Services
Lift Gate Safety
UC Davis
R. A. Wachter
Safety Services

2. Lift Gate Safety Review
This training is not meant to be a comprehensive review of all the details for safe operation of any specific lift gate
Those details vary by manufacturer and model #
Review the specific owners manual for safe operational details
This review covers generic ‘safe practices’ when using and maintaining lift-gates

3. Lift-gate: Safety alert symbol
Improper operation and maintenance of a lift-gate could result in severe personal injury or death
Read and understand the contents of the owners manual and all warning and operation decals before operating and/or performing maintenance on this lift gate

4. Lift Gate - Safety Decal

5. Lift Gate: Typical Components

6. Lift-gate: Basic safety rules
Obtain a copy of the Owner’s Manual, read and note all decals and warnings on a lift gate before operating
Do not operate a lift gate without a thorough knowledge and understanding of the operation
Severe lift-gate injuries can result from crushing or falling
Ensure loads are secure and you have stable footing at all times

7. Lift gate: Safe operation
Keep fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet
clear of moving parts and all potential pinch
points when operating this unit.
Do not stand under, stand to one side of platform when lowering
Be sure that the lowering of the platform and/or flip-over will miss your feet!
Do not allow anyone to stand in, or near area, in which platform will open and close before opening or closing platform or where a falling load could land on them
Do not have any foreign objects under the Platform when lowering the lift gate.
Do not stand in a position that would put you in the path of any moving vehicles around you.

8. Lift gate: Safe operation

9. Lift gate: Safe operation
Be aware the safety and location of other people or objects should be considered before operation of this unit
Do not allow children to ride, play with, or operate this unit
In the event of an emergency while operating the unit, release the toggle switch and the unit will stop immediately
All protective covers, guards, and safety devices must be in place and access doors closed before operating lift-gate
DO NOT ALLOW ANY TRANSFER OF LOADS TO EXCEED THE RATED CAPACITY OF THIS UNIT!

10. Lift gate: Safe operation
Never remove Safety Chains from Platform if chains are in tension. Apply up power and closing power as required to release tension on the chains.
Do not allow anyone to stand near the Platform where a falling load could land on them
Platform Side Bar Linkage areas must be kept clear for Platform opening and closing.

11. Lift Gate Safety: Loads
Refer to the owner’s manual and capacity decal of lift gate for maximum load and load placement.
Load/unload from rear of platform and not side of platform
Never remove side linkage to load or unload platform.
Loading/unload cargo only, use for only intended use.
Restrain tall, high center of gravity loads from falling over.
Never overload a lift-gate

12. Lift Gate Safety: Loads
Load the platform as close to the vehicle, and towards the middle of the platform as possible.
Lift-gates are designed for loading and unloading of cargo. If personnel are required to ride a lift-gate, ensure stable footing at all times
Do not ride lift-gate with unstable loads
Wheeled loads must be properly restrained from rolling
Small objects can fall through the space between the vehicle and the folded platform
Load platform as close to the vehicle, and towards the middle of the platform as possible

13. Lift gate: Positioning the load
The load shall be placed and distributed centrally around the geometric center of the lifting area.
No part of the load shall hang over any of the edges of the lifting area.
Adequate space must be available for the operator to stand safely within the confines of the platform
Feet must not extend over platform edge
Enables the operator to reach the corner post control switch in order to raise or lower the platform).
Geometric Center of Load
No Load Here
WARNING! Under no circumstances is any load to be carried on any ramp which
may be installed as your platform.
WARNING! When operating unit extreme care should be taken, especially when loaded, when children and other person are in close vicinity to the operation.

14. Lift Gates: Dock loading procedure
Standard Height Docks
Slowly back vehicle against dock. Pull forward a few inches. Platform can now be lowered in vertical position
When platform clears truck floor, a dock board can be used to bridge the gap between the floor of truck and the dock.
Raise lift to full up position before pulling away from dock.
Dockboard
Dock

15. Lift Gates: Dock loading procedure
The platform must first be lowered before backing vehicle to the dock.
The platform is then raised so the underside of the platform is higher than the dock.
Back vehicles toward the dock until about one foot of platform is over the dock.
Loads can be off loaded from the body to the platform.
The platform is lowered to the dock.
Loads can be placed on the platform from the dock and then raised
Loading Dock
Loading Dock

16. Lift Gates: Dock loading procedure
Folding Section
Support
If a support is not used under the folding platform section, this will occur.

17. Warning: Keep forklift off lift gate platform
Lift Gate: Loading
Warning: Keep forklift off lift gate platform
Never operate lift trucks on or over any part of platform.

18. Warning: Keep forklift off lift gate platform
Lift Gate: Loading
Warning: Keep forklift off lift gate platform

19. Lift-gates: Repair and maintenance
Follow the “Maintenance Guide” in the Owner’s Manual for weekly, monthly and annual checks
Never use lift-gate if it makes any unusual noise, has unusual vibration, raises or lowers unevenly, or fails to operate smoothly.
Never use a lift-gate if it shows any signs of structural damage such as cracked welds, bent or distorted members.
Do not attempt any repairs unless qualified and using authorized parts
Care should be taken when work is performed on a disabled lift-gate near moving traffic, if possible move vehicle away from traffic areas for repair.
If lift-gate welding follow safety precautions, using pertinent PPE when welding

20. Lift-gate: In transit-storage
The lift-gate platform must always be properly stored and secured for transit. See the Owner’s Manual for details.
Platform and Runners are always to be powered up against upstop pins when in transit.
Chains on both sides of lift-gate should always be in place when lift-gate is not in use.
To prevent unauthorized persons from using lift-gate, a padlock may be used in place of “S” Hook when not in use
A Lock-Out device or Shut-Off Switch
A padlock may be used to prevent unauthorized use of lift-gate
Correct hooking of “S” Hook
In correct hooking
of “S” Hook

21. Folding Ramps
Folding ramps must be folded and latched in place when lift-gate is closed in the transit position.
Take care to restrain cargo during transit for lift-gate
Platforms which function as the tailgate or door of the cargo area.

22. Lift gate Safety Quiz
Which of the following statements is not true when using a lift gate ?
Center the load
Latch before moving
Leave open not closed when in use
Only trained personnel use lift gates
When using a forklift on a lift gate keep it centered ? T or F ?
The platform must be lowered before backing vehicle to the dock T or F ?
Which statement is true when positioning the load on the lift gate ?
Load geometrically centrally on the lift gate area
Part of the load can hang slightly over only if load is centered
Enough operator operator to stand when feet are slightly over the platform edge
Another operator on the ground able to reach the raise/lower control switch
Which of the following statements is not true ?
Do not ride lift-gate with unstable loads
Use the platform as a safe step by leaving it down
Wheeled loads must be properly restrained
Restrain tall, high center of gravity loads

23. Lift gate Safety Quiz Answers
Which of the following statements is not true when using a lift gate ?
Leave open not closed when in use
When using a forklift on a lift gate keep it centered ? False, never use a forklift on a lift gate
The platform must be lowered before backing vehicle to the dock, True
Which statement is true when positioning the load on the lift gate ?
Load geometrically centrally on the lift gate area
Which of the following statements is not true ?
Use the platform as a safe step by leaving it down