If you own or operate a forklift, it’s important that you perform thorough weekly inspections to ensure that it’s in tiptop condition and that it won’t put the safety of operators at risk. In the list below, we have outlined just some of the areas that should be focused on when performing a forklift inspection.

• Tires – They must be inflated to the appropriate pressure, free of excess wear or damage to the sidewalls (such as cuts), and all nuts and wheel lugs must be tight and present.
• Forks – They must not be bent, worn or cracked. The upper limit stops must be in good condition and the fork pins must not be bent, worn, broken or missing.
• Mast – The hoses, chains and other moving parts must not be bent, worn or cracked. There should be no rust. Lubricant should be present on moving parts but should not be excessive or solidified.
• Hydraulic System – The cylinders must not show any signs of leakage or damage. The hoses and fittings must also not show any signs of leakage or damage (such as cracks or paint).
• Carriage – The load back rest extension must be in place and should not be bent, cracked or loose. The carriage must also be in place and should not be bent, cracked or loose.
• Labels – The load rating plate, warning decals, operator’s manual and LPG compliance plate must all be present on the forklift and be readable (if applicable to your particular model).
• Lights – During a forklift inspection, the head, tail and warning lights must all work and be aimed correctly. If equipped, the turn signal must also operate smoothly.
• Battery – The forklift’s battery should be carefully inspected for signs of damage. The connections must be tight and there should be covers over the battery terminals.
• Engine – If applicable to the sort of model you own, the engine’s oil tank should be full and free of leaks. It should also run smoothly, be relatively quiet and have no signs of overheating.

We hope that the above list has given you a much better idea of what a forklift inspection entails, as well as why such a checklist is important for the reliable performance of your machine and the safety of your operators. If you are unsure of how to perform any of these checks, be sure to seek professional assistance.