Sunday 26 May 2013

Don’t Compromise Safety! Top Tips when Using Forklifts

If you are delivering any type of product to your customers, you would need some sort of lifting equipment to transport goods, raw materials and finished products from point A to point B. Fortunately, you can always seek the help of cheap forklifts to do a good job of it for you. These specialized lifting vehicles are used by warehouses from all parts of the world. If you have a manufacturing company in Australia, for example, you would need to purchase Sydney forklifts to transport the goods which travel around the production area.

Safety Tips to Follow when Using Forklifts

Being the huge vehicles that they are, there are certain safety and maintenance tips that you have to follow when using a forklift. Just to be on the safe side, here are a few things that you should keep in mind:
•    Know what the weight limitation of the forklift is.
The average forklift weighs over two tons. It’s the sheer heaviness and volume of the vehicle itself which allows it to lift items on pallets, and transport them onto trucks throughout the warehouse area. When you’re aware of the weight limitation of the forklift, you can take several precautions to ensure utmost safety while using the vehicle.

•    Follow the basic rules when using the forklift inside a warehouse.
The driver of the forklift should be experienced in handling such a specialized vehicle. He or she should be a licensed forklift operator, and safety training should be provided before the actual handling of the vehicle. One of the safety features present in most forklifts is that audible beeping noise as it travels. This means that anyone who can get in the way of the vehicle can easily move as soon as they hear the noise.

•    Make employees aware of the proper, safe process to follow when picking up and carrying items on pallets.
To prevent accidents from happening, it is a must to ensure that the forks are completely into the pallet when they are being loaded onto the truck.

•    Always check on the batteries of the forklift.

You’d want to prevent the vehicle from malfunctioning, so always check on the batteries of the forklift. Most models use electric batteries so proper maintenance should be observed. At the end of the every shift, the batteries should be charged and it should be done in a well-ventilated area.

•    If you need replacement, should you look for cheap forklifts or brand new Sydney forklifts?
Lastly, if you are thinking of getting a replacement for your existing forklift, you can either purchase new ones or cheap second hand models. Just be careful when going for the second option, because previously used vehicles may have problems which you may not necessarily be aware of. To get the best value for your money, the forklift should be slightly used and still have a machine that’s in excellent condition to still give you plenty of years of service in the manufacturing company or warehouse.

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