In order to prevent forklift abuse wherever possible, counterbalance forklift drivers are encouraged to take the following measures to keep the machinery working in a safely manner and to make certain that the driver remains safe.
Tires: Tires must be replaced when they are worn badly or are missing chunks. If the tire is in rough shape, they can cause sharp jarring impacts to the driver, the axle parts, to the wheel parts, and to the load itself. Demanding operations require utilizing proper tires for maximum functioning of the lift truck. In order to be certain that your equipment has the proper type of tires, ask your local dealer for an application survey.
Forks: Operating a lift truck with worn tires can add to the premature wearing of the bottom of the forks. This could really jeopardize the ability of the forklift's truck to lift, which could result in a potentially dangerous work setting. Being certain to complete routine fork checks by in-house maintenance technicians and by operators has to happen on a regular basis so as to make sure that your equipment is operating at maximum capacity.
Transmission: Drivers who ride on the inching pedal can cause damage to the transmission. In order to avoid major component failure and breakdown, the inching pedal must ideally just be engaged when you are approaching a rack and when you want to apply the brakes while revving the engine. When the engine is revving, the hydraulics are allowed to work at full speed. When the hydraulics are not being used, the brake pedal is used for regular stopping of the truck.
Impact: Lift trucks will ultimately encounter numerous impacts with their environment and surroundings when operating fast. Possible impacts can incorporate the forks, wheels, tires, backrests and attachments. Following which operators drive which units by assigning machines to an operator can help track who is responsible for the abuse to the equipment. By installing an impact monitor, a vehicle speed limiter or a keyless access system as options on your forklift truck can really help you to greatly lessen impact damage.
Training: Regular training and ongoing training is important to make sure that your machinery is well maintained. Users of the machinery need to be on board with good maintenance and safety applications. It is required that all new operators are trained properly and know how to perform the necessary daily checks so they can properly operate the machinery prior to utilizing it.