Safety: Vehicle Safety
Daily Checklist
As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “ongoing effort to assist employers and employees in ensuring that a safe and healthful workplace is provided,” sample daily checklists for powered industrial trucks have been made available at www.osha.gov. And while each type is unique and requires operator training, specific to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding vehicle inspection, operation and maintenance, OSHA’s ‘generic’ forklift checklist, intended to serve as a guide only and by no means totally inclusive, is a handy resource to have at your fingertips.
- Are there broken welds, missing bolts, cracked, bent, worn or damaged areas in the Overheard Guard or Mast Assembly?
- Is there leakage or damage to the lift, tilt, and attachment functions of the Hydraulic Cylinders? Or is there damage, kinks, rust or squeaking to the Lift Chains and Rollers?
- Are the Tires showing wear - large cuts around their circumference, missing pieces of rubber or missing lugs?
- Is there excessive free play in the Steering? Or if the Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor when brake service is applied – forward or reverse – that’s indicator #1 that the brakes are bad!
- Is the Propane Tank guard bracket properly positioned and locked down? Is the hose frayed, kinked, pinched or damaged?
- Should any gas odor be detected, turn off the tank valve and alert the appropriate manager.
- Use caution when checking Engine fluid levels – oil, coolant, transmission fluid – using a glove or cloth for hand protection, standing to the side with your face turned away, and always when the engine is cool.
- Are gauges, lights, horn, windshield wipers, seat belts, tow hook, control lever, etc. working?
Download your checklist, today, and work safe!
