A routine forklift inspection can save lives. OSHA reports that an average of 100 employees are killed each year in forklift accidents, and over 95,000 accidents occur annually. Many of these cases are avoidable with a simple forklift inspection.
Daily forklift checks help catch detectable equipment failure before operation. Unfortunately, many operators rush through their forklift daily inspection. This leads to poorly documented maintenance concerns and faulty equipment during operation.
Luckily, Industrial Forklift Truck is here to help. We’ve created an easy five-minute forklift daily inspection for you to follow. Follow these guidelines to ensure that your forklift checks cover all the bases.
Learn more about OSHA forklift inspection requirements and how to apply them to your business. Enhance forklift safety at your facility today.
OSHA Forklift Inspection Requirements
OSHA requires that forklifts be inspected daily, or after each shift if they are used around-the-clock. A standard pre-operation checklist should be used at every forklift inspection to document issues. This checklist should be easily accessible to all forklift operators.
If any issues are found during the forklift daily inspection, the operator must take the equipment out of use until it is serviced. OSHA forklift inspection requirements do not mandate exactly how to conduct inspections, but they do indicate best practices here.
Forklift Daily Inspection Checklist
Industrial Forklift Truck is here to make forklift checks simple. We’ve created a simple checklist that is easy to follow and will only take five minutes to complete. Here are the basic forklift inspection requirements you should cover during a pre-operation inspection:
1. Check Fluid Levels
Start your forklift inspection by checking fluid levels. This includes oil, water, and hydraulic fluid. Check the ground for any signs of fluid leakage.
2. Check for Visible Defects
Are there any bends or cracks along the surface of the forklift? Assess your equipment visually. If you’re performing a forklift inspection on an electric model, look for frayed or exposed wires.
3. Check Tire Condition
Check the pressure of all tires. Look for any cuts or gouges in the rubber. If your equipment has pneumatic tires with tread, make sure the tread is not too worn to provide sufficient grip.
4. Check Fork Condition
One of the most important aspects of a forklift inspection is the fork check. Forklift forks are responsible for carrying the bulk of the load weight. If the forks are damaged, the forklift may drop loads, which is incredibly dangerous.
Look for bends or cracks in the forks. Make sure the angle formed by the shank and blade of the fork does not exceed 93 degrees. Check that the tips of each blade are around the same height. The blades should never have a difference of more than 3% of the blade length. Check the top clip retaining pin and heel. Lastly, check for heel or blade wear.
5. Assess Safety Features
Forklift inspection requirements also include checking the equipment’s safety features. Make sure the seat belt, horn, lights, and brakes are all functioning properly. In addition, check that all safety decals, warning decals, and nameplates are legible and visible at all times.
Be sure to cover each of these areas during all forklift checks. Complying with OSHA forklift inspection requirements will not only protect your employees but prevent hefty fines.
Maintaining Forklift Safety
Performing a forklift daily inspection is critical to the safety of your employees. However, preventative checks will only take you so far. Operating reliable equipment is necessary for forklift safety.
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