Owning and operating a forklift is a mighty responsibility. Daily inspections are of the utmost importance, but what should you look for during those checkups? These tips for maintaining your forklift will provide a handy checklist.
Daily Cleaning and Inspection
A good wipe-down every day will remove excess oil and grime from your forklift, and you can keep an eye out for potential problems as you do it. Does anything look out of place? In addition to being required by OSHA, a daily inspection is essential so the machine can function properly. Keeping your forklift clean makes that daily check doubly easy.
Regular Maintenance
Keep a calendar for your forklift! Make sure its oil and filters are changed regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule (usually every three months.) Just like any other vehicle, it needs tire inspections, spark plug replacements, brake checks, and filter changes on a regular basis.
If you fall behind on these maintenance checks, your forklift could run into more serious problems that are more difficult to fix—not to mention they’d pose safety concerns. Contact your forklift’s manufacturer if you’re unsure when it’s due for maintenance of any kind; they may offer a plan that ensures your forklift will be checked on a regular schedule.
Tire Checks
OSHA doesn’t allow a forklift to operate if there are any pieces of rubber missing from its tires. Inspect all of your tires daily, and make sure they’re all inflated properly and in good working condition. Also, have them rotated and changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule.
Battery Care
The battery is a crucial part of your forklift and must be kept in excellent working condition. Check it every day as a part of your daily inspection. You may be tempted to keep the battery charging while your forklift is not in use, but removing it from the charger once it is fully charged will extend the life of the battery.
Are the fluid levels appropriate? The battery needs water in order to function properly but take care not to overfill it. However, batteries don’t last forever. In the event of a complete failure, have the battery replaced and continue to check and maintain it on a regular basis.
Stay Vigilant
Does anything on your forklift look, smell, or sound unfamiliar? Are any fluids leaking or dripping? Are the forks properly aligned? Are the brakes softer than usual? If you’ve done your daily inspection and it hasn’t passed every single point, take your forklift out of commission immediately and do not operate it until it’s been checked and repaired by a licensed technician.
Forklift maintenance is key to compliance with OSHA standards since it keeps you and those around you safe and extends the life of the vehicle. Daily inspection is a mandatory routine, and these tips for maintaining your forklift will help you keep it in excellent and safe working condition.
