Ask the Expert

Don’t forget the forks!

Forklift forks are arguably the most critical component of a forklift truck.  After all, what’s a forklift truck without forks?  They’re also exposed to abrasion and wear and tear every day, from steel shelving, pallets, concrete floors and more.  This can cause forks to gradually become thinner and thinner, potentially leading to a serious failure when they exceed their stated load capacity. 

Daily inspections by forklift operators can help ensure the safety of forklift forks by monitoring their thickness and checking for any cracks, bends or distortion.  Some forks can be easily straightened or repaired depending on their degree of distortion or the damage incurred.  A licensed forklift technician can help identify weaknesses, distortion or cracks in forklift forks and can help you make a plan for service or replacement of forks if you need it.  Beware – any amateur or in-house modification of forks can reduce the fork strength drastically and may result in fork failure or an accident.  When you need to replace your forks you should choose high quality forks from a supplier you trust. 

Another serious consideration is to never overload forklift forks or exceed the load capacity in any way.  This will help prevent excessive strain or wear and tear on the forks.  Operators should keep the load within the limits of the recommend manufacturer capacities, and it is important for fork truck operators to know that capacity of their machinery and its parts.  This is important because any overloading can weaken or even bend the forks. 

The load should be positioned as per the load center recommended on the chart supplied by the manufacturer. The load limit of the fork truck would decrease as the load center is raised. You should avoid adding any excess weight for counterbalancing the forklift.

Forklift forks are an essential component to the safety and security of your forklift truck.  It’s important to ensure that an inspection of forklift forks be included in your operator’s daily inspection checklist.

This rain cap helps protect the operator from wet, cold weather.

Winter in Canada is a reality we all have to face every year.  Granted, those of us who live on the west coast have to handle different conditions than our friends in central or eastern Canada, but it’s still wonder nonetheless!   Thousands of forklifts operate outdoors in Canada every year, loading and unloading trucks and handling goods.  Affected by the snow and wet weather, how can businesses prepare themselves to make sure that the forklifts, critical to their business operation, run safely, reliably and smoothly?

Here are some tips: 

1) Correct truck specifications
Ensure that your forklifts are specified correctly with the right tires and are properly maintained and serviced to operate in cold, wet weather.  This should be an important priority as getting this wrong could lead to downtime which will negatively affect your output.

2) Driver training
Health and safety should be a high priority for material handling operations.  Forklifts, like other vehicles, need special attention in winter conditions to guarantee they’ll perform safely. Just like your car, the condition of your forklift tires is of particular importance in wet or icy conditions.  These tires affect traction and stability of both the truck and load. It’s important to train your staff to conduct daily checks and make regular servicing of vital components such as electrical systems, hydraulics and batteries a priority.  

3) Housekeeping
Ice or rain may create slippery surfaces both outdoors or on loading bays.  Forklift operators should be trained to be more cautious with their speed and may require additional supervision if the weather conditions are less than ideal.  Good housekeeping and being cautious plays an important role in helping prevent slips and trips, as well as preventing vehicle downtime.  If a vehicle is required to operate in a wet and muddy environment around debris such as leaves or oil, it’s essential to regularly clean the equipment to prevent parts becoming blocked, which can lead to malfunction.  It’s also a good idea to use salt or gravel for traction in the yard areas during the winter months.

4) Visibility in dark conditions
Forklifts should be fitted with suitable lighting to enable them to work safely during times of reduced daylight nd visibility for pedestrians and forklift operators. 

5) Comfort
We all know that miserable winter weather can have an impact on morale and productivity.   It’s vital as an employer or supervisor to provide comfortable working conditions for the entire workday.  Forklifts can be modified to make them more suitable for use in winter weather.  Forklift cabs, covers, windshield wipers and heaters can make the experience more comfortable for the operator.  Supervisors should also consider providing their staff with winter clothing to ensure they stay dry and comfortable throughout their entire shift.  These little details can help boost employee morale and, as a result, help meet operational goals during the cold winter months.

6) Fast and reliable support
Always ensure that there is a reliable, experienced service provider looking after the fleet, who can respond effectively in case of breakdown.   Williams Machinery’s team of licensed technicians are available around the clock to respond to any urgent service needs that may arise.

7) Back-up plans
it’s important to ensure your forklift service provider has access to short-term rental equipment to use in case your primary equipment breaks down, causing decreased output and downtime.

By Heather Ballachey,
Marketing and Communications Lead

Everyone knows that sitting on anything (even your comfy couch!) for hours on end is bound to put strain on your back. However, studies suggest that forklift operators are at an increased risk of lower back pain. This is due, in part, to the urgent need for improved ergonomic design of heavy equipment vehicles. Also, numerous reviews have been conducted on the relationship between working as a heavy equipment operator and musculoskeletal disorders. A recent study showed a correlation between length of employment as a fork-lift truck driver and the occurrence of low-back trouble. It was concluded that fork-lift truck driving may be a contributory cause for low-back trouble. Part of this may be due, in part, to mechanical vibrations.

The EU Directive “Vibration” 2002/44/EC requires companies to protect their employees from noise and vibrations. Oscillations and vibrations from the heavy equipment impose stress on the back of the driver in particular. This can lead to headaches and back pain. Vibrations may also cause concentration to suffer, leading to other workplace morale issues. Linde brand forklifts, for example, are well below the threshold the European directive lays down. Minimizing employee exposure to human vibrations helps to conserve the health of the employee and, in turn, reduce the risk of long-term leave due to injury.

Regular service and maintenance for your fleet of lift trucks or other heavy equipment can help the machines to run more efficiently and therefore cause fewer vibrations for the operator. Also, it’s definitely worth investing in a seat that provides adequate back support. There’s been a considerable amount of research and development focused on seats designed for heavy equipment usage and there’s now a huge variety of ergonomic options available.

There are other ways for forklift operators to protect themselves from back injury. Regular, intentional stretching (such as yoga or pilates) will help to keep the core muscles strong and in alignment. Also, there is a variety of paramedical support to help prevent and treat long-term back injury, including chiropractic care, physiotherapy, massage and even alternative methods such as acupuncture.

When investing in a forklift or other piece of heavy equipment it’s important to consider the health and safety of the employee and the impact that driving the truck for will have on their body. Regular service to minimize vibrations and investing in an ergonomic seat are just two ways to help reduce the risk of long-term back injury.