Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts need a proper maintenance program to help increase the machine's lifespan and is an essential factor in allowing the equipment to run effectively and safely. Completing forklift check ups on a regular basis and performing preventive maintenance on a routine basis will help to guarantee the safe and efficient operation of the machinery.
Daily Checklist
In any forklift maintenance program, the daily checklist is an invaluable tool to have. These checklists would 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 start of their shift. If any major problems are found, the forklift is not to be put into service until the issue has been fixed.
Maintenance and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Each and every year around 100 people are injured in forklift mishaps in the United States. Statistics show that about 20,000 people will be seriously injured as a result of a forklift accident. This number represents 54 people per day, 7 days a week, for the entire year. Many of these mishaps can be easily prevented if the forklift had been properly serviced and maintained. In several circumstances, it might seem like a cost savings to skip or delay regular maintenance, however, these savings would pale in comparison to the cost of a single accident.
Things to be Serviced
The manufacturers owner manual would include a recommended maintenance schedule. Schedules would vary depending on each and every manufacturer and each and every type of forklift. Every schedule will contain a variety of basic items. For instance, in a combustion engine, the engine oil and the oil filter would need to be replaced sometimes. Hydraulic levels must be inspected too. Be sure to inspect hoses for any indications of cracking. Additional items involve the brakes, the transmission and the electrical systems of the forklift.