Warehouse Forklift Maintenance
Forklifts need a proper maintenance program to help increase the machine's lifespan and is an essential factor in allowing the machine to function safely and effectively. Completing forklift check ups regularly and doing preventive maintenance regularly would help to guarantee the efficient and safe operation of the machinery.
Daily Checklist
The daily checklist is an invaluable tool in any forklift maintenance program. These checklists would help to document any and all possible problems. 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 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
In the US, there are approximately one hundred deaths related to forklift accidents and statistic show that almost 20,000 individuals are seriously injured as well. This number translates to represent 54 individuals per day, 7 days a week, for the whole year. Many of these mishaps can be easily prevented 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, however, these savings would pale in comparison to the cost of a single mishap.
Things to be Serviced
The manufacturers owner manual will include a recommended maintenance schedule. Schedules would vary depending on every manufacturer and each type of forklift. Each schedule would contain various basic things. For example, in a combustion engine, the engine oil and the oil filter will have to be replaced sometimes. Hydraulic levels would need to be inspected as well. Be sure to check hoses for any signs of cracking. Additional things include the electrical systems, the brakes and the transmission of the forklift.