Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts need a proper maintenance program to help increase the equipments lifespan and is an important factor in allowing the equipment to function safely and effectively. Completing regular forklift check ups and doing preventive maintenance on a regular basis would 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 possible problems. They are required by the OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The daily checklists could also be audited by OSHA during any routine inspection. Drivers must 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 problem has been fixed.
Maintenance and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Each and every year around 100 individuals are injured in forklift accidents in the United States. Statistics show that roughly 20,000 people will be injured seriously because of a forklift accident. This number translates to represent 54 individuals a day, 7 days a week, for the whole year. A lot of these accidents could be prevented easily if the forklift had been correctly maintained and serviced. In several 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 would include a recommended maintenance schedule. Schedules would vary depending on every manufacturer and every kind of forklift. Each schedule would consist of a variety of basic items. For instance, in a combustion engine, the engine oil and the oil filter must be replaced periodically. Hydraulic levels would need to be checked too. Be sure to check hoses for any indications of cracking. Other items involve the electrical systems, the brakes and the transmission of the forklift.