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Forklift Safety and Maintenance

Barclay Thomas > Forklift Licence News > Forklift Safety and Maintenance

Forklift Safety and Maintenance

Forklift Safety and Maintenance is a requirement under the WHS act Qld is that every Forklift is inspected at the beginning of every shift and so if there are three shifts in a 24 hour period then there must be three inspections by the forklift operators or other designated persons.

As well as an inspection there must also be a record of the inspection created at the time of the inspection or immediate conclusion of the inspection.

On very many times when we go to factories to do training we find fully filled in inspection sheets or logbooks but when raising the bonnet and having an inspection our selves it is evident that the checks are being signed off; but not actually being carried out and the biggest give away is grime.

Grime over every dipstick, reservoir cap and battery component, in the case of an accident it will be very evident to the WHSQ inspectors that the operator or other designated person has falsified their statement and a prosecution is inevitable if it  contributed to a person being injured or worse.

Keep your engine bay clean, it makes your inspections more enjoyable to work on clean equipment.

The biggest majority of forklifts are never ever cleaned ! yet just a few minutes with some degreaser and a hose would make so much difference to the operators environment and the efficiency of the machine.     

Forklift Safety and Maintenance

Operation:

  • Before starting each shift, conduct a thorough inspection of the forklift and its attachments, including lift and tilt systems, steering, brakes, controls, tyres, warning devices, load arms, brake fluid and hydraulic oil.
  • Only use forklifts and forklift attachments which are appropriate for the task.
  • Ensure operators are not only licensed but also competent in the task they are being asked to perform.
  • Ensure appropriate supervision is provided for learner drivers.
  • Establish a method for determining the weight of loads being handled.

Maintenance:

  • Carry out maintenance using a suitably qualified and trained person.
  • Refer to the manufacturer’s operation manual for a recommended maintenance schedule.
  • Establish safety procedures for fuel handling and storage and battery changing and charging.
  • Include a maintenance procedure as part of your safety management system.
  • Keep records of all maintenance, including servicing, testing, commissioning and alteration.