Solid Lift Truck Tire Safety
About 200 deaths ever year are caused by accidents that involve lift trucks, or forklifts. Proper maintenance and inspection of lift truck tires can really help to reduce the risk of mishaps.
Pre-Work Check
The tires on the lift truck must be inspected at the beginning of every shift, inspected for signs of damage and wear. The air pressure inside the tires should be inspected to make sure that the pressure is not very low. Having a tire pressure which is low can make the machine prone to tip-overs when lifting loads.
Types of Tires
The selection of tire type must be based on the type of surface wherein the lift truck will be used. For indoor applications, lift trucks with solid rubber tires are best. For smoother surfaces, tires are usually smaller. Larger pneumatic tires are great for lift trucks being used outdoors. Pneumatic tires can grip rough surfaces well as they have rubber tread and are air-filled.
Other factors
Based on Occupational Health and Safety Administration guidelines, all lift trucks need some continual daily and some periodic inspection that is performed every shift. The tires must be inspected again for any sign of damage, like for instance cuts or wear.
Forklift Safety
If you or your employees are going to be using forklifts, correct training in forklift safety is essential. Lift truck mishaps can lead to serious personal injuries or death and lead to unmanageable financial hardship. Even minor accidents can cost you and your company money if the forklift or the goods are damaged in an accident. Be sure you really know a lot about issues involved in forklift safety.