Forklift Safety Tips

Forklifts are an essential piece of industrial machinery that facilitates transporting and lifting heavy loads. It is amazing how these small machines help increase productivity and efficiency inside warehouses or outside storage facilities. Although most of them look easy to operate, it is very important to practice safety procedures to avoid any accidents.

CCon Metals is your local forklift dealer in Granite Falls, NC, and we care about your safety, that’s why we have rounded up some vital safety tips for you to follow every time you hop on to drive a forklift. If you would like to check out some models for sale, come visit us so one of our friendly staff can help you choose the perfect one. We also serve those from Hickory and Lenoir.

Make Daily Inspections

It is very easy to rely on forklifts daily, but don’t make the mistake of using them without inspecting them first. For these machines to function, they have many components, and sometimes one of them can have a malfunction which may be the cause of an injury. 

Make it a regular practice to check the following daily:

• Test operating controls, which includes the brakes, lights, horn, and steering wheel.
• Make sure all fluid levels are at their proper capacities such as the hydraulic, brake, and coolant fluids.
• Inspect for any water, oil, or radiator leaks.

Don’t Overload

Forklifts are highly reliable and sometimes you may think that they are built to lift anything. The truth is that each model comes with its own weight capacity which should at all times be adhered to. Overloading a forklift can result in the wheels lifting off the ground causing the whole machine to fall over. If you find you need to transport or lift heavier loads, then it’s time to invest in a model with a higher weight capacity.

Don’t Carry Extra People

These machines are usually small and have limited space in them, so having someone else ride along with you means they will be unstable and can lose their balance resulting in some serious injuries. Unless the forklift has a second seat fitted to it, do not carry other workers. 

Don’t Speed

Be a responsible and cautious driver. We all run behind schedule sometimes and tend to want to speed up the process, but you should drive at a slower pace to get the job done rather than to speed and end up crashing into some shelves or tilting over your cargo. No matter how confident and experienced you feel you are at driving a forklift, always have your safety, and the safety of others, in mind. 

We hope these tips were helpful to you! We welcome you to check out our selection of forklifts at CCon Metals in Granite Falls, NC. Our friendly staff will gladly help you choose the right model and can guide you through our best financing options. We look forward to seeing all those from Hickory and Lenoir too!