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This may help you in doing your daily forklift inspections.

OSHA requires a pre-shift inspection of all lift trucks before they are placed into service. Employers must be certain that no condition exists that might adversely affect the safety of the truck. If problems are found, they must be reported and the truck should be taken out of service immediately for repair. A “Warning: Do NOT Operate” Tag should be affixed to the truck, and not removed until the necessary repairs have been made.

It’s a good idea to personalize your checklist to your operation and working conditions. One example would be including an inspection of the air filter and air cleaner if you are working in dusty operations. Once the pre-shift inspection is completed, have your operators sign and date the form, then give it to their supervisor. After looking it over to see if anything indicates the need for repair, supervisors should place the checklist in the forklift’s file. If you are ever inspected by OSHA you’ll be asked to present these checklists. Failure to produce this record could put you at risk for citations. The checklist below can serve as proof of such inspection.

Under normal circumstances, we recommend to charge a battery when it reaches 80% depth of discharge ( “red zone” on most discharge meters), not before.

Most newer batteries are designed to provide 1,500 charge “cycles” or more. If your application is medium duty, or sporadic, charge only when necessary rather than daily. It will increase the cycle life of the battery over a much longer period of time to ensure you get the maximum number of productive years from your battery.

Select “equalize” or “weekly” charge (depending on your brand of charger) approx. every 5 to 10 cycles to keep the battery performing at peak efficiency. Failure to do so or selecting this option too often will harm the battery and shorten its effective life.

Forklift Battery Watering Recommendations :

New batteries require water approx. every 7-10 charges for the first few years. Reconditioned batteries may require water as soon as every 5 charges.

On new and reconditioned batteries, you should check 2 or 3 pilot cells every 5-7 charges to see that the water level is just above the red plastic Element Protector after charge (color variesbaed on what brand of forklift battery you have).

If low, add only enough water to cover the Element Protector by about ¼”. The additional space is necessary for expansion at the end of charge.

Forklift Battery Cleaning Recommendations:

If a battery ever overflows, rinse it with water immediately afterwards to prevent corrosion on top and beneath the battery. Use enough water to dilute the spilled acid so it is not harmful to the environment.

The spilled acid is both highly corrosive. If not rinsed, the conductivity can cause the battery to discharge, even while it is not in use, and it will generate additional heat during recharge.

Over time, the acid left on top of the battery will form clods of conductive white corrosion. If it is allowed to grow, it can shorten the life of the forklift battery and make checking and adding water an terrible experience which people tend to avoid, as well as obvious safety concerns.

Acid vapors escape during charge, residue will develop around the vent cap even under normal circumstances. Batteries should be rinsed as needed, to remove the acid residue from the battery.

Some things to avoid with a forklift battery :

Never over fill a forklift battery. It will cause overflow. Acid loss shortens run time, and requires service to correct.

Never make a habit of giving short charges. Each short charge is a “cycle” and will significantly affect the life of the battery. It also causes excess heat that will make the battery less efficient. It’s better to let a battery rest and cool during short periods of unuse.

Never interrupt a charge cycle.Once a charge cycle is initiated, it should be allowed complete.

Never allow a battery to sit uncharged for more than a few days to avoid “sulfation”. If it becomes necessary to store a battery for any period of time, charge it before and once every 2-3 months to avoid damage.

Never allow a battery to go completely dead. It will take over 3-days of continuous charging to bring back to full charge.

Never allow sparks or flame near a charging battery. Batteries produce explosive hydrogen gas while charging, which could cause an explosion resulting in injury or death.

This is not a complete list and always consult a local professional.

When you forklift is broken or you need any sort of forklift repair or forklift maintenance be sure t have ti handled by a professional.

If you need help or have any further forklift repair or forklift operation questions please feel free to use our contact us  page!

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2.Familiarize yourself with all controls and meter readings. This can be done by reading the operator’s manual.

3. Note the size and shape of what you are lifting, and make sure the fork you are using is set to the proper width.

4. Observe your working environment, make sure it’s clean and clear of obstacles. Do not operate a forklift in an area of heavy foot or vehicular traffic, nor in slippery or otherwise unsafe working conditions.

5. Start the forklift using the key and start button. Move it through basic operations. There will be knobs and levers that move the forks up and down, steer the vehicle and control the speed.

6. Practice driving the forklift in an open area. Try lifting empty pallets or bags of sand to get used to the controls. Once you are comfortable, you can begin your intended chore.

7. Park the forklift with the fork completely on the ground when you are finished.

Tips & Warnings

* Keep the load as close to the ground as possible and don’t drive any faster than you need to. The forklift is designed to lift heavy objects, and is not a racecar.
* Practice with the controls in an open space. All forklifts have rear-wheel steering, but have different instrumentation. Familiarize yourself with the controls of your forklift by asking an experienced operator about the specific model you’ll be using.

* Operating heavy machinery is not something to be taken lightly. If you’ve never used a forklift before, make sure you’re with someone who is experienced.

* If you start to operate this machine with no knowledge beforehand, it’s likely you could injure yourself or someone else.

* Do not attempt to lift any weights until you are confident and consistent in your abilities to safely and articulately operate the machine.

If you are unsure of how to operate a forklift or are unqualified please seek in person training. The web no matter how resourceful is not a replacement for a qualified training program. We hold no liability in giving you this useful information.

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It’s a good idea to personalize your checklist to your operation and working conditions. One example would be including an inspection of the air filter and air cleaner if you are working in dusty operations. Once the pre-shift inspection is completed, have your operators sign and date the form, then give it to their supervisor. After looking it over to see if anything indicates the need for repair, supervisors should place the checklist in the forklift’s file. If you are ever inspected by OSHA you’ll be asked to present these checklists. Failure to produce this record could put you at risk for citations. The checklist below can serve as proof of such inspection.

Click Here to View Checklist Example.