Forklifts are a god send to any warehouse operation. You can use one to unload and load items with great ease and efficiency. They also greatly improve the general safety of the warehouse as they eliminate the need for major human involvement in a variety of logistics-related tasks.

If you or your employer owns a forklift then it needs to be well-maintained at all times. A good routine check before the start of the day will help ensure that there are no problems with the machine that could manifest later and compromise a job. But what exactly goes into a routine check? Read on and find out:

Examine the Forklifting Device

A faulty forklifting device isn’t just going to stop you from carrying out a task; it’s also a major hazard. Hence it is an absolute must to inspect it closely at the start of each work day.

Start off by performing a visual inspection. Do you need notice any dents or cracks located around the carriage teeth? If so, you’ll have to send it for repairs or possibly get a new one. If not, move on to checking its performance. In order to do this, simply raise the forks to the highest possible point and lower them down again. If you notice any abnormal sounds or stiffness, then something is clearly wrong.

As time goes on and parts age, you may get to the point where you are constantly performing repairs on the forklifting device. At that point, it may be more cost-effective to simply look up forklift sales online and purchase a replacement.

Check the Brake System

The brakes on your forklift must be working at all times. If they suddenly give out while you’re transporting some heavy cargo, you may likely injure yourself and others.

Hence, the next agenda on the check-up should be to inspect the brake system of your forklift. Start by stepping on the foot brake and try to determine whether it requires more pressure than usual. Secondly, check whether the parking brake works as intended. Lastly, move on to the brake lights and check whether they’re functioning properly too.

At the beginning of every day it is better taking your forklift truck for a slight spin, without any weight, to make sure the steering works appropriately. After all, the manoeuvrability of your forklift depend on heavily on the reaction of your steering system. This checking is predominantly favourable if you are about to drive on a different surface type that you haven’t experienced before.

Inspect the Steering

The last item on the check list should be the steering. You can inspect this by driving the forklift a short distance back and forth. While you do so, make sure to how responsive the machine is being. Do you have to turn the wheel with greater force than usual to get the tyres to swing? If so there could be several problems present.

One of the biggest causes for poor steering is inadequate tyre inflation. Under-inflated tyres also improve the risk of a blowout so you should get it sorted straightaway. In other cases, it’s usually a tyre alignment issue.

As a forklift owner or operator, it’s up to you to ensure that the truck remains healthy and fully functioning. You can do this by performing a daily check at the start of the day, inspecting the forklift device, the steering and the brake system.