The surface supporting a forklift must be rated to support the weight of the ___.

The surface supporting a forklift must be rated to support the weight of the ___.

• A. load
• B. lift
• C. both a and b
• D. neither a nor b

Answer: (C)

When evaluating what a supporting surface must handle, the key idea is the total load acting on the floor. A forklift places on the floor both its own weight (the lift) and the weight it carries (the load). The floor must be rated to support that combined weight, because that's the actual force the surface experiences during operation—and it may be further increased by dynamic forces when lifting, accelerating, braking, or turning. If the surface isn’t rated for the total of forklift plus load, it can become overstressed, leading to damage or instability. So the surface must be able to support both the weight of the lift and the weight of the load.

When evaluating what a supporting surface must handle, the key idea is the total load acting on the floor. A forklift places on the floor both its own weight (the lift) and the weight it carries (the load). The floor must be rated to support that combined weight, because that's the actual force the surface experiences during operation—and it may be further increased by dynamic forces when lifting, accelerating, braking, or turning. If the surface isn’t rated for the total of forklift plus load, it can become overstressed, leading to damage or instability. So the surface must be able to support both the weight of the lift and the weight of the load.