Forklift Operation - Maintaining the Stability Triangle
The center of gravity and the stability triangle is amongst the important basic operating factors. One of the hardest things for an operator of a lift truck to judge is the significance of maintaining their center of gravity within their stability triangle.

The Stability Triangle
To describe it clearly, a forklift has a 3-point suspension system. When imaginary lines are drawn between these three points, the stability triangle is formed. The operator has to ensure that the center of gravity, that is created, along with the machinery and his load, remains within the stability triangle in order to prevent the forklift from losing balance and tipping over.

Centers of Gravity
How do you define the center of gravity? When it comes to utilizing a lift truck, we should be concerned not only with the load's center of gravity but as well with the combined center of gravity. This includes the lift truck and the load it is picking up.

The load center is defined as the center of gravity of the load. In a uniform load situation, like a bale for example, the load center can be more easily detected. A uniform load on a 48 inch long pallet, for example, would have the load center at 24 inches. This is a common load center for many smaller capacity lift trucks. However, if a load is not centered correctly, like with things that are not symmetrical, maybe an engine for example, then great caution and care must be taken in order to gauge the center of gravity.

Furthermore, the lift truck has it's own center of gravity. This shifts every time the lift truck picks up a load. When the load is raised, the center of gravity shifts forward. A lot of care should be taken to be able to maintain the center of gravity within the stability triangle of the forklift. This happens by following the numbers and not lifting more than the maximum allowable, given the center of the load. What's more, the load center should be taken into account. Be really careful whenever lifting the load, the load center shifts forward also.

The operator and everyone else who works close-by or in the nearby vicinity, can stay a lot safer if the stability triangle is respected and the center of gravity is maintained. This would truly ensure a balanced machinery, balanced loads and safer for everybody.