How to Prevent Forklift Damage: 4 Common Causes and Solutions
Forklift abuse can significantly impact your business’s bottom line. Understanding the main causes of damage and how to prevent them improves safety and reduces costs. In this guide, we’ll cover four common causes of forklift damage and practical tips to avoid them.
How Can Forklift Damage be Prevented?
Forklift damage often results from worn tires, transmission issues, impact accidents, and premature fork wear. Here’s how to prevent these problems:
1. Worn Forklift Tires.
Worn or chunked tires can cause jarring impacts to the wheel, axle components, load, and operator—leading to costly repairs and safety risks.
Prevention Tips:
- Inspect tires regularly and replace them when showing signs of wear or damage.
- Use the correct tire type for demanding applications like concrete or steel environments.
- Ensure proper tire sizing for heavy-duty outdoor operations.
2. Transmission Failure.
Improper use of the inching pedal can lead to expensive transmission damage.
Prevention Tips:
- Train operators on correct inching pedal usage - only use it when approaching a rack.
- Apply brakes while revving the engine for hydraulic efficiency.
- Use the brake pedal for normal stopping when hydraulics aren’t engaged.
3. Impact Damage.
High travel speeds and collisions with products or surroundings can damage tires, wheels, body panels, forks, and attachments.
Prevention Tips:
- Assign operators to specific forklifts for familiarity and accountability.
- Install impact monitors, speed limiters, and keyless access systems to reduce accidents.
4. Premature Fork Wear.
Operating with worn tires accelerates fork wear.
Prevention Tips:
- Follow ANSI/ITSDF standards: replace forks when the heel is worn more than 10%.
- Schedule routine fork inspections for safety compliance.
Conclusion
Preventing forklift damage starts with regular inspections, proper operator training, and using the right equipment. These steps not only protect your assets but also improve workplace safety and reduce downtime. Contact your local Cat® Lift Trucks dealer to schedule mainteance or for more information.
*The American National Standards Institute and Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation.