For the use of lift trucks, there are some safety and health guidelines governing their utilization. Forklifts are huge industrial equipment that could be dangerous and have to be handled with safety in mind. The rules and regulations state that the operator has to carry out daily checks on the lift truck and more thorough checks each and every week and on a monthly basis. The following inspections have to be done on the forklift:
Lift Truck Brakes - the brakes are a really vital part of the lift truck machines and therefore they must be double and tripled checked. A brake check is carried out with various pressures and pedal heights to determine the sensitivity of the brakes. The brake lights must be checked 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 need to be inspected correctly 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 indication of problems should be reported and tended to at once. The lift truck should not be used until the controller system has been repaired.
Steering Wheel - the driver must check the forklift steering wheel in order to make certain the turning of the wheel is correct. Lift truck safety depends on the steering wheel responding well and functioning precisely. There are a variety of checks which can be performed to determine steering wheel performance.
Engine Oil - the engine oil needs to be inspected by removing the dip stick from the lift truck engine. The dipstick would show both the oil color and the oil level. The oil should be refilled if the level is too low. If the colour is off, there could be contamination occurring.
Fire Extinguisher - forklifts are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher. This fire extinguisher will have to be checked to ensure it would work properly in the event of a fire. Different kinds of fire extinguisher has to be checked in certain ways. For example, a dry chemical extinguisher should be shaken.