NATIONAL FORKLIFT
SAFETY DAY
A FORKLIFT IS CRUISING along a warehouse aisle
when the operator hears a strange noise; the hydraulic
pressure in the mast falls, and both the forks and the load
they’re carrying drop to the ground. In another location, a
lift truck with a broken backup alarm hits an unsuspecting
pedestrian as she rounds a corner and enters the aisle
where the truck is working. And inside a small facility
sealed up against winter temperatures, where older-model internal-combustion (IC) forklifts are in use, alarms
go off as carbon monoxide levels start to rise.
These safety-related incidents all have something in
common: They were caused by inadequate maintenance
of the equipment involved. They highlight the fact that
proper maintenance helps prevent accidents and is a
necessary element of any forklift safety effort.
As part of DC VELOCITY’s coverage of the Industrial Truck
Association’s National Forklift Safety Day 2019 event,
we spoke with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
about the role of maintenance in forklift safety. What
follows are their observations and recommendations.
STICK TO THE PLAN
In conversations about forklift maintenance and safety,
one recommendation is at the top of everyone’s list: Be
scrupulous about scheduled maintenance and pre-shift
inspections, and rigorous in how you conduct them.
Scheduled maintenance should be carried out at
intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Many
people think scheduled maintenance is mostly for things
like replacing filters and oil, but that’s just a small
part of the story, says Grant Tipton, senior manager
of technical services for UniCarriers Americas. This
type of maintenance does aim to keep a truck running
smoothly, but it’s also a time to check that safety-related
items like brakes, warning systems, seatbelts, and lights
are functioning properly, he says. Examples of other
components that should be inspected include masts,
hydraulic systems, tires, and batteries. One checklist we
reviewed, for a pallet jack, specified service intervals and
procedures for dozens of parts, including the frame, drive
wheels, steering-assembly components, and the fittings
that connect the forks to the frame, to name just a few.
In short, anything and everything that affects a forklift’s
ability to perform safely and efficiently should be carefully
inspected and serviced, as outlined in the manufacturer’s
service and repair manual for the specific truck model.
SAFER BECAUSE THEY’RE SOUND
Maintaining your forklift fleet in
tip-top condition plays an important
role in keeping operators,
pedestrians, and the workplace safe.
BY TOBY GOOLEY, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
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