For the utilization of forklifts, there are some health and safety guidelines governing their use. Forklifts are huge industrial equipment that could be dangerous and have to be handled with safety in mind. The rules and regulations state that the operator should carry out daily checks on the lift truck and more thorough inspections on a weekly basis and on a monthly basis. The following inspections have to be carried out on the lift truck:
Forklift Brakes - the brakes are a very vital part of the lift truck machines and hence they must be double and tripled checked. A brake inspection is performed with different pressures and pedal heights to determine the sensitivity of the brakes. The brake lights should be inspected at the same time.
The Tires - the tires are also essential to the safe functioning of the truck and to the braking system. All the tires should be correctly checked to ensure they are inflated to the right pressure and that there are no punctures in the tires.
Controller - the lift truck controller system is checked by operating the forks and the release to determine that the system is in good working order. Any indication of issues must immediately reported and tended to. The forklift must not be utilized until the controller system has been fixed.
Steering Wheel - To make sure that the turning of the wheel is correct, the driver should check the lift truck steering wheel. Forklift safety depends upon the steering wheel working correctly and responding well. There are various types of checks which could be performed to determine the performance of the steering wheel.
Engine Oil - the engine oil needs to be inspected by removing the dip stick from the forklift engine. The dipstick will show the level of the oil and the colour of the oil. The oil must be refilled if the level is very low. If the colour is off, there might be contamination happening.
Fire Extinguisher - all forklift trucks are required to be outfitted with a fire extinguisher. The extinguisher has to be checked to ensure it will work properly in the event of a fire. Various kinds of fire extinguisher need to be checked in specific ways. Like for example, a dry chemical extinguisher should be shaken.