The Basics Of A Pre-Shift Forklift Inspection

When attending a forklift safety class, heavy focus is placed on accidents and preventative measures. Operator safety and skills need attention, and your company must also emphasize the importance of forklift inspection and maintenance.

OSHA Guidelines For Forklift Inspection

Pre-shift forklift inspections are required by federal law. It states “Industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they shall be examined after every shift. Defects when found shall be immediately reported and corrected.”

Frequency And Inspector Requirements

Every shift requires a pre-shift forklift inspection. The person charged with inspection must visually and operationally inspect the forklift for safe and proper operation. If a defect is found, the forklift must be tagged and placed out of service until it’s repaired by authorized personnel.

Inspections can be completed by the forklift operator or other personnel; however, the person conducting the pre-shift forklift inspection should receive training on how to provide detailed, consistent inspections. This person should also be familiar with information found in the forklift operator manual and any site-specific policies required by the your company.

Some employers build a best practice for inspections. Rather than having every forklift operator perform an inspection, a select team is trained. Members of the team complete the pre-shift forklift inspection and pass a checklist to a supervisor who authorizes the operator to run the forklift.

Proving Compliance

If a forklift accident results in serious injury or death, OSHA will investigate whether pre-shift inspections were properly conducted. While federal law does not require paper or electronic documentation of these inspections, having documented proof can be highly beneficial. This evidence can demonstrate compliance and support your case when an OSHA officer interviews employees during an investigation.

Pre-Shift Forklift Inspection Checklist

OSHA provides general guidelines for pre-operation forklift inspections, emphasizing the importance of conducting checks before starting equipment. These inspections should cover various safety and operational aspects to ensure the forklift is ready for use. For a detailed checklist and further guidance, visit OSHA’s resource page for pre-shift inspection protocols.

ProLift provides safety training materials, including a daily checklist for pre-shift inspections. Learn more and shop our online catalog!