Forklift maintenance not only keeps your equipment up and running for a longer time but also ensures the safety of an operator. By performing periodic maintenance, your forklift can stay in top shape as well as remain safe to operate.
Otherwise minor problems can quickly become significant, costly issues that need extended downtime to repair. Neglected forklifts can risk the safety of the operator as well as the pedestrians in its path. Every year, nearly 30,900 forklift accidents take place which claims over 80 lives.
Although poor training accounts for 20-25% of these events, the remaining portion fully or partially comes down to improper maintenance.
With that in mind, we have come up with important forklift maintenance tips to increase the safety as well as the performance of your vehicle.
Perform a Daily Inspection:
Make sure to inspect your forklift before use for potential problems such as leaky hoses and worn-out brakes. It will give you peace of mind that your forklift is safe to use. Moreover, you can save time and money on the potential costly repairs.
The important things to be checked before you even turn on the machine are hoses, tire pressure and conditions, seat belt function, fluid levels, forks, overhead guards, and brake performance.
Check the Manufacturer’s Maintenance Schedule:
Try to stick to the maintenance plan provided by the manufacturer.
For instance, an in-depth inspection or service is recommended by most manufacturers which take place after a certain period. You might need to change the oil after every 3 months or a certain amount of usage ranging from 250-1000 hours of use.
Taking care of your oil, tire, fluid, spark plug, brake, and drive train can help you avoid bigger problems that can lead to a huge amount of money, time, and safety.
Check the Tires:
Forklift tires are likely to wear out quickly, particularly if it regularly goes over the same paths across the warehouse. It causes repetitive motion that can speed up the wearing of the tires on one side than on another.
Tires can also deflate, lose their tread, or spring leaks. Since tires are an important part of forklift operation, forklift maintenance should include regular checking of the tires. Your daily tire inspection should include checking the tire pressure and a visual examination to determine their condition.
Clean It:
Cleaning your forklift not only makes it look good but also removes the build-up of combustible materials such as lint and dust. Make sure your cleaning process includes the cleaning of the radiator, wiping, and changing filters.
This regular cleaning will enhance the performance of your forklift, saving you money by minimizing wear and tear caused by the accumulation of dirt and debris.
Address the Issues as Soon as They Occur:
Despite performing a regular forklift maintenance schedule, there may occasionally be unexpected problems that occur in your machine. For instance, an operator might notice that the brake is getting soft over time, or a tine might break or bend during use. Dealing with these issues as soon as you spot them is an important step in preventing the bigger problems and accidents.
Resolving issues early can prevent small problems from becoming big and expensive ones. For instance, it is much cheaper to repair a coolant leak than it is to replace the entire engine or possibly a new forklift after a leak has led to extensive damage.
The Bottom Line:
So you must have understood why forklift maintenance is important to form the safety viewpoint and how to do it. All you need to perform a daily forklift inspection and address the issues as soon as you spot them.
What do you think? Let us know by commenting below!
