Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts need a proper maintenance program to help increase the equipments lifespan and is an essential factor in allowing the equipment to function safely and effectively. 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 important tool in any forklift maintenance program. These checklists would help to document any and all 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 are required to complete the inspection from the start of their shift. If any major issues are found, the forklift can not be utilized until the problem has been fixed.
Maintenance and Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Each year approximately 100 people are injured in forklift mishaps in the USA. Statistics show that roughly 20,000 people would be injured seriously because of a forklift mishap. This number represents 54 people per day, 7 days a week, for the whole year. A lot of these mishaps can 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 regular maintenance, however, these savings would pale in comparison to the cost of one accident.
Items to be Serviced
In the owner's handbook of each machinery, the manufacturer would include a maintenance schedule. These schedules would differ greatly, depending on the manufacturer and the kind of equipment. Every schedule would contain various basic items. For example, in a combustion engine, the oil filters and the engine oil would need to be periodically replaced. Hydraulic levels must be checked too. Be sure to check hoses for any indications of cracking. Other things include the brakes, the transmission and the electrical systems of the forklift.