Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts need a proper maintenance program to help increase the equipments lifespan and is an essential factor in allowing the machinery to run effectively and safely. Completing forklift inspection on a regular basis and performing preventive maintenance regularly would help to ensure the efficient and safe use of the equipment.
Daily Checklist
The daily checklist is an invaluable tool in any forklift maintenance program. These checklists will help to document any and all potential issues. 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 should complete the inspection from the beginning 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
In the United States, there are around one hundred deaths related to forklift accidents and statistic show that nearly 20,000 individuals are seriously injured too. This number represents 54 people a day, 7 days a week, for the whole year. A lot of these mishaps could be prevented easily if the forklift had been correctly maintained and serviced. In some circumstances, it may seem like a cost savings to delay or skip routine maintenance, although, these savings will pale in comparison to the cost of one accident.
Things to be Serviced
The manufacturers owner handbook would include a recommended maintenance schedule. Schedules will differ depending on each manufacturer and every model of forklift. Each schedule would consist of a variety of basic things. Like for instance, in a combustion engine, the oil filters and the engine oil must be replaced periodically. Hydraulic levels would have to be checked as well. Be sure to inspect hoses for any indications of cracking. Additional items involve the brakes, the transmission and the electrical systems of the forklift.