When it comes to the safety of your workplace, you should never underestimate the importance of daily operational checks on your forklift. It is a quick process that will only take a few important minutes and could prevent serious injury or even death.

It is the employer’s responsibility to provide relevant training, protocols and recording materials to allow these checks to occur effectively. Every forklift operator has the responsibility also to stay vigilant in carrying them out thoroughly to ensure equipment is never operated in an unsafe condition.

Forklift Safety checks also allow maintenance issues or minor faults to be identified early before they become major issues with extensive associated costs, downtime, damage to facilities or product and risk of injury to operator and other personnel.

According to Safe Work Australia, pre-start safety checks or procedures should include the following:

• Lift and tilt systems including the correct operation of attachments such as clamps, hydraulics lines (for oil leaks), chains, cables and limits.
• Steering, brakes (including park brakes), controls and lights.
• Each tyre for wear, damage, and inflation (pneumatic types)
• Guarding is in place and functional, for example, around the battery compartment or fuel lines.
• All warning devices are operational.
• Fork arms and attachments (for deformation, damage or wear)
• Liquid levels, for example, hydraulic oil, brake fluid and water.
• Gas cylinder, where relevant, and its securing system.
• Check the condition and adjustment of the seat and seat belts to ensure they work reliably.
• Load capacity data plate is fitted, legible and correct.
• Mast: check for signs of wear, damage, cracks or repairs.

If any defects are identified, complete the operational checklist with as much detail as possible and follow your organisations policies and procedures for tagging out of equipment and reporting.

A forklift pre-start checklist should only be conducted by operators who are trained to do so, just as any maintenance and repairs must be done by persons who are competent and authorised to do so.

Forklift Safety Checks not only reduce the risk of injury to the operator and other employees, they will also improve the condition of the forklift, increase productivity, and reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

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Download our Forklift Safety Check here and start your pre-start checks today!

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