What is a Fork Lift Truck ?

Forklifts are mobile vehicles powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines and used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials controlled by a rider or pedestrian operator, indoors or outdoors.

Forklifts are used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, manufacturing, construction, retail, meat and poultry processing, lumber and building supplies, trades, agriculture, and a variety of warehouse operations.

The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) has defined seven classes of forklifts. These classes are defined by the type of engine, work environment (indoors, outdoors, narrow aisle, smooth or rough surfaces), operator positions (sit down or standing), and equipment characteristics (type of tire, maximum grade).

Maintenance

1. Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition shall be removed from service andall repairs made by authorised personnel.

2. No truck should be operated with a leak in the fuel system until the leak has been corrected.

3. Repairs to the fuel and ignition system which involve fire hazards must be conducted only in designatedrepair locations.

4. When working on the electrical system the battery must be disconnected.

5. All parts that are replaced must be replaced with parts equivalent as to safety with those used in the original design.

6. Before and end of shift maintenance and safety checks need to be preformed before the forklift is used. Defects need to be reported and corrected before the fork lift is used. (See appendix 1. for an example of asafety and maintenance checklist.)

7. Water mufflers shall be filled daily or as frequently as necessary to prevent depletion of the watersupply below 75 percent of the filled capacity.

8. Vehicles with mufflers having screens or other parts that may become clogged must be cleaned of anydebris or unclogged before operation.

9. Any vehicle that emits hazardous sparks or flames from the exhaust system shall immediately beremoved from service and repaired.

10. Vehicles with any overheating problems must be removed from service immediately and repaired.

11. Industrial trucks must be kept clean, free of lint, excess oil, and grease. Noncombustible agentsshould be used for cleaning trucks. Low flash points (below 100 deg F.) solvents shall not be used.