Do Forklifts Need Inspections?

Just like any sort of vehicle or complex machine, forklifts also require inspections to ensure they are in safe and proper working order. Making sure to regularly engage in forklift maintenance in Irving as well your daily personal safety inspections will usually ensure that you catch anything that is wrong and prevent any potential hazardous incidents.

HOW OFTEN MUST THE FORKLIFT BE INSPECTED?

It is required by the OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Act) that if your forklift is regularly used, you must have them daily inspected. This can take place either before or after the truck goes on a shift. This is stated in the Powered Industrial Truck standard at 1910.178(q)(7).

On top of your daily safety inspections, you should also have your forklift undergo a comprehensive safety inspection by a competent lift truck mechanic at least once a year. This comprehensive safety inspection should take place once a year from every 2,000 hours that the forklift is operated in those 12 months. One must also consider other factors such as environmental conditions, i.e. extreme temperatures and weather, and exposure to moisture.

MUST THE DAILY INSPECTIONS BE DOCUMENTED?

The OSHA does not, however, require that these daily forklift inspections be documented. Although the daily inspection documentation isn’t required, it is often recommended for your own benefit, as this log can aid in regular servicing appointments later as well as help to keep track of your employees in that they did in fact complete the daily inspection. Utilizing a daily inspection checklist will give you the confidence that all the necessary components of the vehicle were checked out as well as provide you with the evidence to any OSHA inspector that the forklift has in fact been inspected as required by the act.

A proper daily checklist will include checking:

• Wheels and tires
• For loose parts or leaks
• Brake and transmission fluids
• Radiator levels
• Engine oil
• Hydraulic oil
• Battery electrolyte
• Fuel levels in tank
• Mast chains and hydraulic drive
• Instruments and pedals
• Lights and lamps
• Mirrors

When it comes to forklift operations, safety should be your top priority. Not following various provided guidelines and maintenance requirements can lead to very hazardous events as well as penalties, if any, legal admissions arise from any sort of accident. If you have any questions about the recommended guidelines or are looking for a trusted forklift company in Dallas, contact us here at Ace Equipment today.