Workers at construction sites, retail stores, and warehouses use forklifts to lift and move large, heavy containers and to carry materials too bulky to move with a hand truck. To ensure safety, you should follow a forklift safety checklist that will protect you and others, as well as the facility.
Inspection before use
* Always do an inspection of the forklift before starting out. Check that tires are properly inflated, whether there is any fluid leaking from the hydraulics, and whether all controls are performing according to specifications.
* Check the braking system to note any lockups or slow responses.
* Be sure that the horn is operating.
* Test the lights.
* Test the backup alarm.
* Check to see that the load is evenly distributed and stable. Verify that it doesn't block your view of the pathway in front.
Surface conditions
* It's up to you to check the floor surface to ensure that no spills, objects, or uneven surfaces will be in the path of the forklift. Any floor that is not level can cause the forklift to tilt and upset the carried load, increasing the risk of a tip-over.
Check the floor strength
* A floor must be able to support the weight of the forklift as well as the load it is carrying.
Standards require the floor to support the combined weight by a factor of four. A wooden floor that can only support a weight of 30,000 pounds could collapse under a forklift that weighs 7,000 pounds and a 3,000-pound load, say safety writers.
* Ensure you are fit and well rested before starting. Just as you would when driving a car or truck, take a break if you begin to feel drowsy.
