OSHA Forklift Checklist
Streamlining warehouse logistics is one of the most surefire ways fleet managers can help prevent workplace injuries to personnel while increasing productivity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, requires warehouses that use forklifts and other power industrial trucks to meet the national standard for safety by implementing protocols and providing thorough training and certification courses. Because the day-to-day operations in a warehouse, retail store, construction job site, or other workplace can be extremely busy with a lot of employees and machinery moving at once, having forklift drivers adhere to checklists takes the guesswork out of proper forklift operation. Here at ELOKON, we fully support OSHA’s mission to protect the safety of workers and have developed state-of-the-art devices and software systems to help companies do their best to create the safest workplace possible.
In this article, we will go over the potential hazards that come with using a forklift and look at a sample checklist that could be used in a warehouse setting for forklift drivers. We will also discuss how the products in ELOKON’s vast safety portfolio can be used individually or combined to give your drivers the confidence they need and the assurance they deserve.
Common Forklift Hazards
Improper Use: This includes unauthorized employees or personnel climbing on or driving the forklifts, as well as operating the trucks recklessly.
- Poor Visibility: While every vehicle has blind spots, accidents can be avoided by identifying said blind spots and proceeding with caution, especially when the truck is carrying a heavy load.
- Falling Materials: Loads that are not secure can fall from a truck, posing a threat to nearby pedestrians and drivers alike. A fall can also compromise the integrity of the materials and warehouse themselves.
- Fueling: Running out of fuel in the middle of a job compromises productivity and possibly leaves the truck stranded in a location that is not ideal. Forklifts that use diesel or propane are extremely dangerous to smoke around and should not be operated in the vicinity of any designated smoking areas.
- Speed: Not obeying the speed limits of the warehouse can lead to collisions with other trucks, people, and warehouse structures.
- Pedestrians: Unnoticed pedestrians can be struck and injured, and drivers should take precautions to avoid hitting pedestrians at all costs.
- Overhead Obstructions: When traveling from indoors to outdoors and vice versa, it is imperative to stay aware of what is overhead to avoid a collision.
- Safety Accessories: Drivers should always wear their seatbelts if provided.
- Warehouse Conditions: The environment around a job site can change hourly, and it is vital for drivers to observe their environment accurately to accommodate for changes in the floors, high-traffic areas, and loading zones.
Taking the time to identify any potential hazards when operating a forklift saves valuable production time while greatly reducing the risk of personal injury to employees. Knowing what could possibly happen can help fleet managers set their warehouses up for success by taking the preventative measures necessary to keep their machines in top shape and their drivers safe. ELOKON’S team members can help identify possible problem areas when installing their devices on your fleet and make recommendations based on your specific needs.
Sample Forklift Safety Checklist
Implementing a preoperative forklift inspection checklist for authorized forklift operators is an ideal way to catch maintenance needs before they are urgent, maintain the necessary number of trucks in your fleet, and ensure the safety of drivers and other warehouse employees by only sending out trucks that are ready to work. A comprehensive checklist includes steps that should occur before the forklift is turned on, after the forklift has been turned on and in use, and when the forklift is shut down for the day.
Key Off Checklist
Vehicle Inspection
- Examine battery
- Check fluid levels
- Examine tires and check tire pressure
- Ensure the function of moving components
- Make sure nameplates and markings are visible and legible
Key On Checklist
- Check gauges
- Test brakes
- Test horn
- Ensure all lights are working
- Check seatbelt security
- Ensure load-bearing equipment is working and ready
Streamline Your OSHA Compliant Forklift Safety Checklist with ELOfleet
ELOKON has made creating a fork truck safety checklist even simpler with the development of its cloud-based fleet management system, ELOfleet. With just a smartphone, fleet managers and forklift operators can manage and maintain their material moving equipment, and because the system does not require any original equipment manufacturers, ELOfleet can be installed on any type of truck or machine in your cohort. Its intuitiveness means checklists are more likely to be utilized by drivers, as the familiarity of the smartphone simplifies the process. Let’s dive into the two versions of ELOfleet, ELOfleetSprint and ELOfleetSmart, their unique features, and how the world’s first app-centric forklift management system can transform the form and function of your warehouse.
ELOfleetSprint
- Can be installed on forklifts from different manufacturers
- Compatible with most RFID technologies, allowing drivers to use their personal ID card to access the app and operate the vehicle
- New trucks can be retrofitted to an existing fleet with ease
- Supports three different authorization profiles: driver, workshop technician, and area manager
- Records every movement by the individual forklift using a hall sensor and transmits the information to the ELOfleet web portal
- Reports preemptive maintenance at regular intervals so managers can schedule a maintenance check before the vehicle is in need of servicing
- Reporting of crashes and damage
- Event triggers following an impact to alert the area manager
- Automatically blocks vehicles that require maintenance
ELOfleetSmart
ELOfleetSmart offers everything ELOfleetSprint does, with additional features and benefits. They include:
- A permanently installed smartphone on the front end of the vehicle
- The ability to use a PIN to access forklift control instead of an ID card
- Pre-operational checklists the driver must complete to ensure the forklift safety systems are in working order. If the vehicle is deemed too dangerous to use, it will be deselected from normal operation.
- Customizable safety messages are displayed to drivers upon login and before taking off