Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Having a proper maintenance program for forklifts will help to increase the lifespan of the equipment and is also a vital factor to the safe use of the machine. Completing regular forklift check ups and performing preventive maintenance on a regular basis will help to guarantee the efficient and safe use of the machinery.
Daily Checklist
In any forklift maintenance program, the daily checklist is an important tool to have. These checklists would document any possible issues. They are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the OSHA. The daily checklists could also be audited by OSHA during any routine inspection. Operators must complete the inspection from the start of their shift. If any major issues are found, the forklift can not be used until the problem has been fixed.
Maintenance and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
In the United States, there are roughly one hundred deaths related to forklift accidents and statistic show that almost 20,000 people are seriously injured as well. This number translates to represent 54 individuals a day, 7 days a week, for the entire year. A lot of these accidents can be prevented easily if the forklift had been properly serviced and maintained. In some 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 a single accident.
Things to be Serviced
In the owner's guidebook of each and every machine, the manufacturer will include a maintenance schedule. These schedules will differ greatly, depending on the manufacturer and the type of machine. Every schedule would contain various basic items. For instance, in a combustion engine, the engine oil and the oil filter would have to be periodically replaced. Hydraulic levels should be inspected also. Be sure to check hoses for any indications of cracking. Other things include the transmission, the electrical systems and the brakes of the forklift.