- HIAB United States
- TMF Pre Operation Check List
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Never underestimate the importance of a reliable truck mounted forklift to your delivery operations. Because they are often considered the “heart” of projects of all sizes, a truck mounted forklift inspection isn’t just a nice “extra” to have every year or so when the time to replace parts has come. On the contrary, according to OSHA, you should perform a forklift check every day before using the machine. We understand that the process can be overwhelming, but don’t worry – we’ve put together a quick primer on everything you need to do to keep your truck mounted forklift in good shape.
There are a few things which must be done daily before you operate your TMF, and all of them are designed to ensure the machine is safe for use and is in good working order. A truck mounted forklift is a big piece of machinery, after all, and could present serious risks to worker safety. They’re also a big investment, and if you don’t take care of them, they are prone to both short-term and long-term failure.
Conducting a thorough truck mounted forklift check before operation is a good way to ensure your machinery is kept in good working order. Address any potential issues as soon as possible – don’t wait until something fails. If you take care of small problems before they turn into massive problems, you might be able to save yourself a lot of time and money in the long-run. A forklift inspection is the most effective tool in your arsenal to protect yourself, your workers, your investment, and your on-time deliveries. If you aren’t familiar with TMFs and not sure where to begin, you should consider working with someone familiar with the machine for a more thorough inspection.
There are a few things you must do before operating a forklift. The first steps are to perform visual checks before operating the machine. More specifically, you should visually inspect the vehicle for any flaws or oddities, which might indicate a potential issue. Visual inspections should look over the following:
If you have a MOFFETT equipped with 4-way functionality, visually inspect the following items:
If you have a MOFFETT equipped with pantograph functionality, visually inspect the following items:
Log deficiencies on the daily MOFFETT pre-shift inspection form. This list should be reviewed every day, with any defects included as soon as they are discovered. If a deficiency would prevent safe operation, do not operate the machine and notify your supervisor according to your company’s policies.
The next step in your pre-operational inspection process is an operational inspection. This might sound a bit odd. After all, if the inspection is supposed to be done before operating the vehicle, then how exactly are you expected to find issues which occur primarily when using it? When you are performing operational checks, you are inspecting the most basic of operations.
Operational checks include inspecting the following:
If you have a MOFFETT equipped with 4-way functionality, inspect the following items:
If you have a MOFFETT equipped with pantograph functionality, inspect the following items:
The next step in your pre-operational inspection process is a transport inspection, which is done by inspecting the mounting kit and then mounting the MOFFETT onto a truck or trailer before making deliveries. Never attempt to mount the forklift to perform the transport inspections, if the visual or operational inspections indicate immediate safety hazards. If a problem is suspected, take the forklift out of service and have it inspected. Transport inspections should include the following:
A pre-operational inspection, also known as a “walk around inspection,” should be conducted every day before you use the machine. This process can be a quick and easy one, especially if you take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the list. Truck Mounted Forklift Pre-operation inspection checklists are intuitive, but we will go through the important steps below to help you get started.
This is not a complete list, and other steps might be necessary depending upon your forklift type. Electric forklifts, for example, include additional steps, such as checking battery mounting, wiring, and connections, just to name a few.
Caring for your truck mounted forklift is critical. Our team can help ensure that your machine is in good shape and safe for use. Contact our team at HIAB today if you are in need of a truck mounted forklift, or are looking for more information!