Statistics from the British Safety Council show that around 1,300 UK employees are hospitalised annually with serious injuries following a lift truck accident. That equates to five people suffering from serious injuries and traumas each day in the UK alone.

Pre-Use Inspections: The Facts

Pre-use safety inspections for lift trucks (also referred to as daily checks, and pre-shift checks), are legally required. They enable operators, supervisors, and managers to identify any faults that could lead to damage or compromise safety. If left unattended the faults could result in an incident or downtime.

A pre-use inspection should be completed by the operator prior to any lift truck operation; this could be either at the start of their shift or prior to a period of continuous use. Even if another operator already checked the truck earlier that day, a pre-use inspection must take place before the next operator begins to use the truck.

Who is responsible for pre-use inspections?

This is often an area of confusion between managers and operators. It is the lift truck operator’s responsibility to conduct the inspection, prior to using the forklift. However, as with all lift truck operations, supervision is essential to ensure correct processes are followed, as well as for accountability. Training courses, such as the RTITB Accredited ‘Managing and Supervising Materials Handling Equipment Operations’ (also available as eLearning) help managers and supervisors understand their responsibilities and teach them how to minimise lift truck risks in the workplace.

What is covered in a pre-use check?

During a pre-use inspection, the operator should visually inspect and conduct functional tests on all of the general working parts that might show signs of wear or damage. Areas to inspect include the:

mast and mast rollers/slides

carriage, carriage plate and back rest extension

lift chains, chain pulleys and fixing bolts

fork arms

brakes and steering

hydraulics and hydraulic controls

lights

audible warning devices

wheels and tyres

operating position and seat

general external condition

Other areas include any faults from the previous day and any obvious leaks.

Of course, the way pre-use checks should be conducted depends on the parts and functionalities of the specific truck. Ensuring that the physical or digital checklists used are specific to the exact equipment can be helpful for operators.