Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts require a proper maintenance program to help increase the equipments lifespan and is an essential factor in allowing the equipment to run safely and effectively. Completing regular forklift inspections and doing preventive maintenance regularly will help to ensure the safe and efficient use of the equipment.
Daily Checklist
In any forklift maintenance program, the daily checklist is an important tool to have. These checklists will document any potential problems. They are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the OSHA. The daily checklists can also be audited by OSHA during any routine inspection. Drivers have to complete the inspection from the beginning of their shift. If any major problems are found, the forklift can not be utilized until the issue has been fixed.
Maintenance and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Each year about 100 individuals are injured in forklift mishaps in the United States. Statistics show that approximately 20,000 individuals would be seriously injured because of a forklift mishap. This number represents 54 people a day, 7 days a week, for the entire year. A lot of these mishaps can be easily prevented if the forklift had been properly maintained and serviced. In some circumstances, it may seem like a cost savings to delay or skip routine maintenance, although, these savings would pale in comparison to the cost of one accident.
Items to be Serviced
The manufacturers owner instruction manual will include a recommended maintenance schedule. Schedules will vary depending on every manufacturer and every type of forklift. Each schedule will contain a variety of basic items. For example, in a combustion engine, the oil filters and the engine oil would have to be periodically replaced. Hydraulic levels must be inspected also. Be sure to check hoses for any indications of cracking. Other things include the transmission, the electrical systems and the brakes of the forklift.