With the new year approaching, many of us will be making resolutions to get healthier, maybe drop a few pounds and eat better.
We’re asking you to make the same commitment to your forklift in the new year, and to do that, much like you do with yourself- you have to understand the difference between “Preventative” and “Routine” maintenance.
For example, your own routine maintenance may start in the morning when you brush your teeth. The forklift equivalent might be checking the tires at the start of every shift, or making sure your mast and the surrounding elements are appropriately lubricated.
Your preventative maintenance routine may include a daily vitamin, or a regular checkup with your physician. The forklift equivalent would be changing the engine oil and filters according to the manufacturers schedule, or getting a regular check-up from your forklift service provider.
So, making the distinction between “preventative” and “routine” is critical to not only your health, but the health of your forklift as well.
We’ve covered OSHA’s required start-of-shift checklist, which obviously falls under “routine” since it happens at the start (and hopefully the end) of every shift, but it also can extend the life of your forklift and contribute to a safe shift. Keep your batteries fully charged (you can decide between “opportunity” charging or “standard” charging), check your gauges to make sure they’re reading correctly, check your brakes- leave nothing to chance.
A combination of preventative and routine maintenance can keep minor issues from becoming major (expensive) problems.
As always, contact us if you have any questions about care and maintenance of your forklift, either preventative or routine. We have checklists that can help and our technicians have seen, literally, everything. We can walk you through just about anything that comes up.
Here’s to a happy, safe, healthy new year for both you, and your forklift!