Do your employees understand the concept of center of gravity as it relates to forklifts? You can convey the following basic information to help them understand this topic.

Center of Gravity. The load center is the distance between the vertical face of the forks and the center of gravity of the load.

• The center of gravity is the balance point of the load—that is, the exact point on which the entire load will balance. For loads that are composed of consistent material, the balance point will be near the center of the load.
• If the load is inconsistent—that is, it contains materials of different weights and densities—the load center will be on the side with the heaviest material. For example, if a pallet contains bricks on one side and pillows on the other, the center of gravity would be closer to the side with the bricks.
• If possible, a load should always be picked up on the side that is closest to its center of gravity. This helps keep the weight of the load closer to the forklift and reduces the risk of the load falling off or causing the forklift to tip over.

The above information comes from BLR’s presentation 'Forklift Operator Safety.' For more information on all the training courses BLR has to offer, go to our Safety Training page.