There are safety and healthy regulations governing the use of lift trucks. Any huge machinery, like a forklift, is potentially dangerous and must be utilized safely. The regulations and rules state that the operator has to perform daily inspections on the forklift and more thorough inspections on a weekly basis and every month. The following inspections should be performed on the forklift:
Lift Truck Brakes - brakes on forklifts are important features which must be double and triple checked. A brake check is done with various pedal heights and pressures to determine the sensitivity of the brakes. The brake lights should be inspected at the same time.
The Tires - the tires are also important to the safe functioning of the truck and to the braking system. All the tires must be inspected properly to make certain that there are no punctures in the tires and they are inflated to the right pressure.
Controller - To determine whether the system is in good working condition, the lift truck controller system has to be checked by operating the forks and the release mechanism. Any hint of problems must be reported and tended to instantly. The lift truck must not be used until the controller system has been repaired.
Steering Wheel - To make certain that the turning of the wheel is correct, the operator must check the forklift steering wheel. Forklift safety depends on the steering wheel working accurately and responding well. There are different kinds of inspections which can be done to determine the performance of the steering wheel.
Engine Oil - the engine oil needs to be inspected by removing the dip stick from the forklift engine. The dipstick would show the level of the oil and the colour of the oil. The oil must be refilled if the level is very low. If the colour is off, there might be contamination occurring.
Fire Extinguisher - all lift trucks are required to be outfitted with a fire extinguisher. The extinguisher needs to be checked to ensure it would function correctly in case of a fire. Various types of fire extinguisher need to be checked in certain ways. For instance, a dry chemical extinguisher needs to be shaken.