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DOE/EH-0308 --- Issue No. 93-04 --- 05/93
Vehicle Liftgates - Hazardous
Unless Used Cautiously and Properly
Recently a Department of Energy (DOE) employee crushed and partially
amputated a finger while operating a rear-mounted, hydraulic liftgate. In
order to access a building platform, the employee stood on the liftgate
and activated the lift lever with his foot. He lost his balance and fell,
trapping one finger between the truck bed and the liftgate. In this case,
there were stairs available which the employee could have used to access
the platform. Safe operating precautions dictate standing clear of the
liftgate and operating the lever with the hand.
Other instances of injury over the least few years involved workers who
stood on liftgates while they were moving and either crushed their toes
between the liftgate and the truck bed or lost their balance and injured
their backs when they fell. Workers were also injured because they were
standing on moving liftgates when the hydraulic systems failed and the
liftgates crashed to the ground. While many companies install fail-safes
in their hydraulic systems, not all of them do so. Workers using
liftgates as passenger lifts may risk serious injury.
There are two main types of liftgates in general use: One type folds and
tucks up under the rear bed of the truck (Figure 1, Liftgate folds beneath
rear of truck body, see original Safety Note for picture), and the other
type folds up against the rear of the truck (Figure 2, Liftgate folds
against rear of truck body, see original Safety Note for picture). To
avoid injury, workers should follow their operating procedures carefully
and heed the following safety precautions.
Safety Precautions
- Do not stand on the liftgate platform and operate the unit.
- Keep fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet clear of moving parts when
operating the unit. Check for possible pinch points before starting
the unit, and keep hands clear of them.
- Do not stand in front of the liftgate platform when lowering it. In
particular, keep feet clear of the area where the platform will
strike the ground.
- Do not position feet where the flipover portion of a tuck-away
liftgate can strike them when it is lowered to the ground.
- Check the location of coworkers before operating the unit.
This Safety Note is one is a series of publications issued by EH to share
occupational safety information throughout the DOE complex. The be added
to the Distribution List or to obtain copies of the publication, call
(615)576-7548. For additional information regarding the publications,
call Barbara Bowers, Safety Performance Indicator Division, Office of
Environment, Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC,
20585, (301)903-3016.
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