Whether you have forklifts in your warehouse or are looking for forklifts for sale or forklifts for rent for your warehouse, it is important to prioritize safety. A lot of warehouse accidents are related to forklifts and it is only through safety training and procedures are a vital part of every warehouse operation. Pedestrians and forklift operators need to be alert to the possible dangers that lurk at every corner and engage in practices that promote safety. To help, here are some tips for pedestrians and forklift operators.
Forklift operators
- Environmental awareness is very important for forklift operators as a way to promote safety. Here are some handy tips for forklift operators.
- Always look in the direction the forklift truck is moving and avoid any motion when there is negligible visibility.
- Use alarms and drive slowly when entering and leaving warehouse aisles. Do the same when approaching crosswalks and intersections.
- Always give pedestrians the right of way whenever they cross your path and only proceed with caution.
- Avoid driving close to people if there is ample space. Always ask them to move before proceeding.
Pedestrians
Pedestrians also need to have environmental awareness and keep alert to the movements and sounds of forklifts working around them.
- Always make eye contact with forklift operators to make sure they are aware of your presence.
- When available, use dedicated walkways for pedestrians
- Always be alert to forklift sounds such as the horn
- Always stay clear of forklifts that are in operation as the operators’ attention is primarily towards the work they are doing.
- Forklifts are not designed to stop immediately. This means you need to give them an allowance to come to a stop gradually.
Make sure that safety practices are inculcated into the workforce and safety signs are posted in all the relevant places and in the right format. Operators must also attend routine refresher courses to make sure they stay on top of their game and also capture new knowledge and skills.
Talk to Accurate Forklift
If you are looking for forklifts for sale, forklift parts, forklift service or just in need of forklift rental for a special requirement, Accurate Forklift has got you covered. We offer popular forklifts from all the top brands such as Toyota, Nissan, Hyster, and Caterpillar. Call us today at 770-692-1455 or mail us at sales@accurateforklift.net. We are the home of everything forklift!
Forklift problems and down times are unbearable and can be a drain on your finances and profitability. The chief objective whenever a forklift breaks down is to get it fixed and back at work in the shortest and cost-effective manner. That is why it is wise to know when you can go the DIY route, and when you need to go for professional forklift repair services. This blog helps you do just that. Let’s dig in.
DIY Options
The importance of getting professional help at all times can never be overemphasized. All forklift service problems must be attended to by professionals, unless you know what you are doing. The only time it may be reasonable to go the DIY route is when doing things such as topping up fluids. Even when you have an in-house team of technicians, there are issues that they are not well-placed to fix.
Why You Must Always Involve Professionals
Aggravating the Problem
Gone are the days when repairing forklifts was mostly about mechanical stuff. Although you will still need a lot of nuts and bolts, most of the stuff is now highly technical and involve computer diagnostics. You don’t want to end up with more damage than you had at the outset.
Injuries and Insurance
Risks that are at play when working with heavy machinery are best handled by professionals. Such an approach helps you avoid injuries in the workplace and the liabilities that follow. Repairing your forklift yourself can also see you losing your insurance.
Wasting Time
Chances are, going DIY in the absence of proper knowledge and experience usually ends up requiring the intervention of a professional. This may be to undo some of the further damage resulting from the DIY project. In the end, it adds up to a waste of productive time and money.
Talk to Accurate Forklift
If you are looking for forklift repair services in Atlanta, Accurate Forklift has you covered. We provide forklift repair and maintenance services for all popular forklift makes and models such as Toyota, Hyster, Caterpillar, and Nissan. You will also find forklifts for sale and forklifts for rent, as well as oem forklift parts for sale. Call us today to discuss your requirement or get answers to your questions at 770-692-1455 or mail to sales@accurateforklift.net.
The sheer size of forklift trucks and the nature of work they do makes it important to stick to things such as checklists and maintenance / inspection schedules. It also remains important to go for oem forklift parts every time you have to replace damaged or worn parts. Failure to diagnose and fix problems on time not only complicates things, but exposes you to costly forklift service. Before you can set out hunting for new forklift parts, used, or salvage forklift parts, it helps to have a clear appreciation of what exactly needs replacing.
First things first
One consideration that can never be overlooked when determining the parts that need to be replaced is whether your forklift truck is electric or internal combustion. This is despite the fact that the vast majority of parts are the same. The consideration goes to the differences in the design and workings of the two engines, such as hoses in an internal combustion engine, which need checking. It is also important to know the parts that needs replacing according to the maintenance schedule and those that are regular consumables.
Routine Replacement Parts
The following are parts that you have to replace routinely according to your maintenance schedule and depending on the make, model, and manufacturer guidelines. Make sure to keep an eye on:
- Power steering hoses and rubber parts
- Chain
- Fuel hose
- Master cylinder rubber parts
- Wheel cylinder cap and seals
- Hydraulic hose
- Reservoir tank hose
- Swing lock cylinder
Order Replacement Parts
There are also consumables that you have to check and replace at a faster frequency as compared to your maintenance schedule. The list will also vary from brand to brand and across different models. They include buy are not restricted to:
- Oil filter
- Air filter
- Spark plugs
- Pedal pads
- Oil fill element
- Cylinder end pins
- Horn
Talk to Professionals
If you are looking for forklift oem parts for sale in Atlanta, your search ends at Accurate Forklift. We are recognized dealers for top forklift brands such as Toyota, Nissan, Caterpillar, and Hyster. Apart from forklifts for sale and rent, you can also find new, used, and salvage forklift parts for sale. Salvage parts are tested and restored to make sure that they are safe and give you value for your money. Call us today at 770-692-1455 or mail to sales@accurateforklift.net.
Almost 50 percent of forklift truck operators complain of neck pain at one point or the other as compared to 30 percent of office workers. Forklift operators usually have to extend their necks when loading and unloading on high-level shelves in the warehouse. They also have to rotate their heads repeatedly when reversing, lean to the side to get a better view. The pain is a result of extended unnatural neck positions. Recent studies have confirmed the increased risk of neck pain associated with being a forklift operator and also come up with proposals to mitigate the situation by way of adjusting work tasks, improving work schedules, as well as the design of forklift trucks. Accurate Forklift is a leading forklift dealer company that can help you solve some of the issues we are going to discuss such as by supplying ergonomic parts.
Shoulder Pain
The shoulders can get strained from repetitive motion, steering, and operating the hydraulic controls. To keep shoulder pain at bay:
- Use a seat with an armrest
- Stretch regularly
- Keep elbows in when working
- Maintain handshake position as oppose to palm down operation of controls
Neck and Back Pain
Poor work habits and work environment can lead to neck and back pain. Sitting for extended periods, poor posture, and whole body vibration are some of the chief culprits. Shaking and jolting of the body can result in neck and back pain. What you can do is:
- Employ an air suspension seat
- Reduce your speed
- Avoid traveling on uneven surfaces whenever you can
- Take periodic breaks to stretch
- Use the backrest
- Always make sure that your seat is properly adjusted before starting work
- Avoid assuming a slumping position to reach the controls
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and forearms may be the result of musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive movement and jerking. Employing ergonomic seats go away long way to keep away or reduce musculoskeletal injuries.
Last Word
You must also protect your knees by using knee braces and never jumping off the forklift truck. Make sure the forklift truck is serviced regularly to avoid a situation where problems develop that demand operators to exert themselves physically more than they have to when operating the lift truck. Accurate Forklift is your trusted partner when looking to rent a forklift in Atlanta or buy a used forklift in Atlanta. We are a leading dealer company with a huge range of forklift makes and capacities to cater to unique requirements. Call us today at 770 692 1455 to discuss your requirement and get answers to all your questions.
Safety is a major area of focus and concern when it comes to the operation of forklifts whether in warehouses or job sites. We also help you keep your fleet fit for duty with top-shelf forklift repair and maintenance services in Atlanta. In this blog, we take a look at some of the mention-able safety practices that must be part of your work culture.
Know the forklift trucks
One significant step towards promoting a safer work environment when working with forklift trucks to get a better understanding of the equipment. One way to do this is by appreciating the difference between conventional vehicles and forklift trucks. It is easy to forget their difference as they have a lot in common. Some of the differences include:
- First and perhaps most important is the sheer weight of forklift trucks. While rough terrain trucks take the prize, lift trucks in general range from 9, 000 to 30, 000 pounds.
- Forklift trucks also have a tighter turning radius
- Whether loaded or not, they are prone to tipping over
- They travel at a walking pace with speeds not reaching 20 miles per hour
- They a 3-point suspension
Get Regular Safety Training
The risk of accidents, injury, or even death is greater when it comes to drivers who lack the requisite operator and safety training. All safety at cultivating safety in the warehouse or at job sites counts for naught in the absence of proper training.
Master the basics of loading
Many accidents occur as a result of errors associated with loading. Your first concern must be with the dimensions and stability of the load. You can make sure everything is okay by walking squarely in front of the load when picking it up. Spread the forks before deploying them. It is always advisable to make sure that the load is centered and not above capacity. Another valuable practice is to tilt the forks slightly backward before lifting a load.
Know about the Stability Triangle
An unloaded truck has its own center of gravity while the load has its own. This results in a loaded truck having a different center of gravity that is a combination of the two. The stability triangle of a forklift truck derives from its three-point suspension wherein 2 are located at both ends of the front axle and the third at the center of the rear. Safety training teaches you to avoid errors that can lead to the disruption of the stability triangle leading to tip-offs and a host of the risks.
Talk to Us
If you are looking for forklift repair and maintenance services in Atlanta, Accurate Forklift is your trusted partner. Talk to us today to discuss your requirement and get the best deal on impeccable services and products. You can reach us at 770-692-1455. Alternatively, you can write to us at service@accurateforklift.net or sales@accurateforklift.net, and we will respond as soon as possible.
There is a lot that you can do to improve safety around the warehouse and keep losses at bay. Accurate Forklift not only provides one of the best forklift sales and rental service in Atlanta. The importance of adopting safety practices when involved in the lifting and hauling of heavy loads can never be overemphasized. Forklifts are very cumbersome machines that can cause a lot of damage when they impact walls, stock, or pallet racks. When it goes unnoticed for extended periods, minor impacts on pallet racks can ultimately lead to failure. Here are some practices that you can adopt to minimize or eliminate pallet rack damage from impact with your forklift trucks.
First things first!
Before we go into the nuts and bolts of safety practices, it is important to lay a solid foundation for safety by hiring certified forklift operators. Also, make sure to enroll your forklift operators in OSHA approved safety courses. It also helps if your forklift operators learn a bit about the racking system.
Aisle Clearance
The size of forklifts and loads that they haul demands ample space when it comes to the design of aisles. Ample space allows forklifts to safely maneuver while reducing chances or impact of collision. The aisles should also be free of any pallets as they increase the likelihood of accidents.
Rack Inspection
It is important to inspect your pallet racks from time to time to make sure that they are still fit for use. This is because they experience significant wear and tear owing to use, collision, improper loading, and other causes. When inspecting the pallet racks, look into the structural integrity, the condition of uprights, row alignment, as well as the condition of the floor.
Rack Loading
To avoid improper loading of pallet racks, it is important to clearly label them with their load tolerances. Make sure that your forklift operators are adept at balancing loads and stacking, among other vital skills. Consider the heaviest possible loads when choosing uprights and stack such loads at the lower levels.
Racking and Protection
Always take any replacement need as an opportunity to reevaluate the system. Consider going for higher strength and damage resistant replacements. You must also consider protection of your racks by considering low profile guards, end-of-aisle guards, as well as post protectors.
Talk to Us
There is a lot more that you can do to protect your pallet racks not only to prevent failure but also extend their life. Accurate Forklift is your one-stop shop when it comes to all your forklift truck requirements. Whether it is used forklifts for sale or the best forklift rentals service in Atlanta, we have got you covered. Talk to us today to discuss your requirement and get the best deals and help. Call us at 770 692 1455 or mail us at sales@accurateforklift.net or rentals@accurateforklift.net.
