Solid Lift Truck Tire Safety
More than 200 deaths per year within North America are caused by lift trucks, or forklifts. Proper maintenance and inspection of lift truck tires can help to lessen the risk of mishaps.
Pre-Work Check
The tires on the forklift should be inspected at the beginning of every shift, checked for signs of damage and wear. The air pressure inside the tires has to be inspected to ensure the pressure is not too low. Low tire pressure could make the machine susceptible to tip-overs when lifting loads.
Types of Tires
The tire type of the forklift will be based upon the type of floor surface that the lift truck would operate on. Solid rubber tires are great for indoor application. For surfaces that are smooth, tires tend to be smaller. Bigger pneumatic tires are great for lift trucks for outdoor use. Pneumatic tires are able to grip rough surfaces well as they have rubber tread and are air-filled.
Other Considerations
According to Occupational Health and Safety Administration guidelines, all lift trucks need some periodic and some continual daily checks which is performed each shift. The tires must be checked once more for any indication of damage, such as cuts or wear.
Lift truck Safety
If you or your employees would be using forklifts, proper training in lift truck safety is important. Forklift accidents can cause serious personal injuries or death and result in unmanageable financial difficulty. Even minor mishaps could cost your business money if the merchandise or the forklift are damaged in an accident. Be certain you are well informed about problems involved in forklift safety.