• What safety procedures should you follow when servicing a forklift truck?
• What should you not do when servicing a forklift truck?

What safety procedures should you follow when servicing a forklift truck?

• Permit only qualified persons to service and maintain equipment.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment. Wear goggles when grinding. Wear face shields, aprons, gloves and rubber boots when handling lead-acid batteries or working around battery-charging equipment. Wear leather gloves when changing LPG fuel tanks.
• Disconnect all batteries before doing any work.
• Before servicing LPG forklifts:
  1. Shut off the tank fuel valve.
  2. Run the engine until it stops.
  3. Disconnect the tank from the hose.
• Block the forklift securely when removing wheels.
• Support the forklift hood in upright position or remove to do work.
• Keep the work area clean and well lit.
• Clean spilled oil or hydraulic fluid immediately.
• Check all tools before using.
• Remove all tools and parts before starting the engine.
• Handle batteries with care.
• Avoid contact with battery terminals with hoisting chains, tools and metal objects.
• Cover the battery top with some insulating material.
• Attach a chain hoist to the counterweight before removing it from a forklift.
• Check the bolts holding the counterweight to the body and replace any worn or missing bolts.
• Find out why a forklift is in for repairs before starting or driving it.
• Check the operator's daily checklist before making repairs.
• Inspect by magnetic particle testing the main mast welds and forks annually or when cracks appear.
• Inspect by magnetic particle testing all hoses, couplings, fittings and connections to the cylinders in the main mast assembly and the tilt control system.
• Inspect forks for distorted, twisted or bent sections. If defects are found, test the area of concern.

What should you not do when servicing a forklift truck?

• Do not leave parts, creepers, cans, tools or other obstacles around.
• Do not lift beyond your capacity. Use hoist or leverage tools to lift or move heavy parts or equipment.
• Do not smoke, weld or light a match around refueling and battery-charging areas.
• Do not start a forklift if it is on a lift hoist or wheel stands.
• Do not work on forklift attachments unless you are familiar with their operation.
• Do not work beneath elevated forklift trucks or forks unless they are securely supported by approved blocks.
• Do not run LPG, gas or diesel forklifts in unventilated areas.

Document last updated on October 13, 2006

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