The Importance Of Checking Your Forklift

Forklift trucks are used every day in business throughout the world and form a vital part of industry today. In fact most companies would be lost without forklift trucks as the movement of heavy goods would be almost impossible to move without them. In the future the technology of the day might come out with something more sophisticated but for now forklift trucks are here to stay.

There are many types of forklift trucks but they basically do a similar role in loading and unloading goods. Various attachments can also be applied to assist in the carrying of different shaped goods.

Many employees are sent on fork lift training courses in order to be able to handle these vehicles properly as they are not quite as easy as they look but like anything with a little practice just about anybody can drive a forklift truck. Get free advice on fork lift training courses at http://www.aftt.co.uk.

As a forklift truck driver once you have passed your test and are using forklift trucks on the warehouse floor you will have to undergo several maintenance checks on a regular basis to make sure that the truck meets with all health and safety standards. This is important because all vehicles can potentially be deadly weapons and cause severe injury and even death when not handled properly.

This is why it's vital that all forklift truck drivers get certified for driving the vehicle as the forklift training courses also include health and safety, first aid, general handling, advanced training and general maintenance.

It should be noted that unlike a car license where anyone can drive a vehicle up to 7500 tons, a forklift truck license only allows you to drive a specific type of forklift. You can take several conversion courses to counteract this issue so that you get a license for more than one type of forklift but the most common is the counterbalance forklift license.

No matter which forklift truck license you end up getting your training will include a good section on maintenance as I've just mentioned which includes checking your equipment every day before use.

Now the type of checks that you perform will vary depending on whether you have an electric or diesel/gas forklift truck so it’s advisable to understand what checks need to be carried out based on the truck that you're using. Both gas and diesel fall under the same category as these are both fuel powered forklifts and so the checks will be the same.

For electric powered forklifts you need to check to make sure that the oil level is correct along with the battery levels to make sure there is enough juice in the battery to power it up. In the case of electric forklift trucks you obviously need to make sure that you charge the battery everyday. You also need to check that there is enough tread on the tyres and that they haven't deflated as this will obviously cause an imbalance when adding loads to the forklift. You also must make sure that the wheels are securely fastened as the nuts can sometimes come loose. Other points to check for include looking for any leaks and damage as pipes can also sometimes come loose or even split. You should also check the forks themselves as these are prone to wear down with continual use.

For diesel and gas type forklift trucks the checks of almost the same except for the fact that instead of checking the electricity level you should check the water and fuel level instead.

After performing all the routine checks you should be ready to go and with any luck will have a problem free day.

General maintenance plays such a big role in forklift truck driving, more so than people realize because it's all about safety first. Add to that the fact that a forklift truck will last a lot longer when being looked after and you will find a company is much more insistent on their drivers performing these checks from health and safety but also a monetary standpoint.

If you happen to take a forklift training course any time soon you will find out that they take maintenance and upkeep very seriously so make sure that you pay special attention to everything being said because they may fail you altogether if you don't.

Establishing Equipment Right of Way

An important topic for any forklift instructor training course should be the issue of right of way. The fact is that this is usually a controversial topic when it comes to heavy equipment and pedestrians. Who has the right of way? How can it be established within a company that either the machinery or the pedestrian should be the one airing on the side of caution? These are topics that any training course should cover, and that all employees should adhere to. Go to www.aftt.co.uk for more information on fork lift training courses.

There are two sides to the argument. Pedestrians cannot fathom that those in charge of operating forklifts do not have the common courtesy to ensure there is no one in their path. On the other hand, however, forklift operators cannot fathom that a pedestrian could be so carless to simply walk in front of a piece of machinery that is thousands of pounds heavier than them. So who is right?

In most companies, the forklift operator will be given right of way simply due to the fact that they are dealing with issues of visibility, handling a load and controlling the brakes, therefore the last thing they should have to be worried about is someone crossing their path, and causing a potential injury. However, the general rule of thumb in traditional car/pedestrian situations is that the pedestrian always has the right of way, so who wins the argument?

As a forklift trainer, this person should establish that all parties are observant and pay close attention to what is happening around them. The fact is that if someone is given exclusive right of way, they may have a "devil may care" attitude, which is not necessarily careless but can be extremely dangerous if they are not observant to others in their vicinity.

Both parties should be responsible for themselves, as well as cautious of others in the area. Operators should be certain that they are in control of their forklift at all times. This includes operating in a manner that provides maximum visibility as well as able to stop safely under any condition that may arise. The fact is that even if a company provides right of way to the forklift and it hits a person, the courts are likely to rule in favor of the pedestrian.

When it comes to establishing safe interaction of forklifts and pedestrians, communication is key. When these individuals come into contact both should acknowledge each other with eye contact and then a gesture should be made establishing who has the right of way. This can be a horn, gesture, nod or wave. Also, anywhere that heavy machinery is used; pedestrians and forklift operators should wear visible clothing to ensure that they are able to be seen in all cases.

While right of way is a hot topic of debate in the instances of machinery and pedestrians, the fact is that both parties need to practice caution and be taught proper safety procedures in order to prevent careless injuries that can be easily avoided.