There are healthy and safety rules governing the utilization of forklift trucks. Any huge machine, like a lift truck, is potentially dangerous and must be utilized safely. The rules and regulations state that the driver must carry out daily inspections on the forklift and more thorough checks on a weekly basis and on a monthly basis. The following checks should be performed on the forklift:
Lift Truck Brakes - the brakes are a very vital part of the lift truck machinery and therefore they should be double and tripled checked. A brake inspection is done with different pedal heights and pressures to determine the sensitivity of the brakes. The brake lights must be checked at the same time.
The Tires - the tires are also essential to the safe functioning of the truck and to the braking system. All the tires need to be correctly checked to ensure that there are no punctures in the tires and they are inflated to the right pressure.
Controller - the lift truck controller system is checked by operating the forks and the release to know that the system is in good working order. Any sign of problems should immediately reported and tended to. The forklift must not be utilized until the controller system has been fixed.
Steering Wheel - the driver should check the lift truck steering wheel to make certain the turning of the wheel is right. Lift truck safety depends on the steering wheel working correctly and responding well. There are various kinds of checks which can be carried out to determine the performance of the steering wheel.
Engine Oil - the engine oil has to be inspected by removing the dip stick from the lift truck engine. The dipstick will show the colour of the oil and the level of the oil. The oil should be refilled if the level is very low. If the colour is off, there might be contamination occurring.
Fire Extinguisher - forklifts are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher. This fire extinguisher would have to be tested to ensure it would work properly in the event of a fire. Different kinds of fire extinguisher need to be inspected in certain ways. Like for instance, a dry chemical extinguisher should be shaken.