Most forklift incidents trace back to a fault that a two-minute walk-around would have caught. Make this checklist part of every shift start.
Before starting
- Tyres — cuts, wear, correct pressure (pneumatic)
- Forks — cracks, bends, heel wear, locking pins in place
- Mast and chains — lubrication, equal chain tension, no damaged links
- Hydraulic leaks under the truck or along hoses
- Overhead guard and load backrest secure
- Battery — connectors, charge level (electric); fuel, oil, coolant (diesel)
After starting
- Horn, lights, reversing alarm and beacon
- Service brake, parking brake and steering
- Lift, lower and tilt operate smoothly to full travel
- Seat belt and seat switch functional
- Gauges and warning lamps normal
Operating rules
- Never exceed the load chart capacity; keep the load low and tilted back when travelling
- Look in the direction of travel; sound the horn at blind corners
- No passengers, no lifting people without an approved platform
- Park with forks down, controls neutral, brake on, key out
Report and tag out
Any defect found should be reported and the truck tagged out until repaired. Our service team supports safety inspections as part of AMC contracts.