Calculate Lost Load of Fork Truck
with Morse Drum Handling Attachments

Calculate the effect of a Morse drum handling attachment on your truck capacity. The capacity factor is important to safety (truck stability and avoiding damage to your truck). You should also ensure that the truck can do the work you need done.

Morse drum handling attachments tend to move the center of gravity of the combined truck and load forward. The farther forward the center of gravity moves on the forklift, the smaller the load weight must be, and the more likely the fork truck is to tip forward.

 With a drum handling forklift attachment in place, fork truck capacity can be substantially lower than the original rated capacity. For exact determination of capacity for your truck with drum handling attachment, you should contact your truck manufacturer.

Follow the link in the chart at right for dimensions of your Morse drum handling forklift attachment. This information is used to calculate the lost load on your equipment.

Applicable OSHA Regulations:

1910.178(a)(4)

Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly.

1910.178(a)(5)
If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, the user shall request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered.

1910.178(a)(6)
The user shall see that all nameplates and markings are in place and are maintained in a legible condition.

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OSHA inspector stated that if an employer (truck owner) can't get the lift truck manufacturer to cooperate, there is an alternative. He said there is an OSHA letter of interpretation that says "...if the employer has ... written approval from a qualified Registered Professional Engineer..." He said the employer should keep such a written approval in their files.

For the complete info, see letter of interpretation. The relevant wording in that letter is:

"...written approval from the manufacturer of a powered industrial truck is required for modifications and/or additions if the modifications and/or additions affect the capacity and safe operation of the truck. However, please be aware that OSHA would consider the lack of manufacturer's approval to be a de minimis violation if the employer has obtained written approval from a qualified Registered Professional Engineer after receiving no response or a negative response from the powered industrial truck manufacturer. If the manufacturer's response was negative, then the engineer, prior to granting approval for the modification or addition, would need to perform a safety analysis and address all safety and/or structural issues contained in the manufacturer's disapproval...."

Charles Lighthipe, Sales Manager

Morse Mfg. Co., Inc.

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Updated: 08 Feb 2010

Lost Load of Fork Truck with Morse Drum Handling Attachments. Calculate the effect of a Morse drum handling attachment on your truck capacity.