If you are working in a warehouse or some other facility that requires you to operate a forklift, it is important that you take it seriously and always operate carefully and correctly. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself or others. Or you could damage the forklift.
A fork truck operator needs to complete whatever training the company requires. They need to know the electric forklift capacity and how to maintain the electric tow motor. If you’re operating a diesel fork truck, you also need to be sure that you are being safe on the road whenever the vehicle is in motion.
While a forklift rental might be easy and make it seem like the whole process is simple, it is not. And operating carelessly could get you killed. So before you make any plans for yourself or an employee to operate a forklift on a job site or in a warehouse, look into what kind of training your area requires for forklift operators. Then make sure those requirements are fulfilled. It might be inconvenient, but it beats the alternative.
Ever wondered if your warehouse personnel are treating your forklift batteries with the right care and maintenance? When these batteries cost thousands of dollars to replace, it’s essential that you uphold the right procedures for handling these major investments among your personnel.
To get started, here are the top three forklift battery maintenance procedures you and your warehouse personnel should follow to ensure optimal forklift battery life and higher warehouse efficiency:
Re-charge the forklift’s battery properly
Proper forklift battery changing and charging is different from charging your cell phone or any other re-chargeable electronics you may own. First, you should never operate a forklift when its battery’s charge has gone below 20%, as this can result in overheating and motor failure. Always give each battery a full eight-hour charge — fast charging too often can cause forklift battery problems like a depleted lifespan.
Wash the battery regularly
Each battery should be washed about once a year during a regular forklift battery changing procedure. During everyday use, forklift batteries discharge sulfuric material that cakes on the battery’s exterior. This needs to be cleaned off to ensure the battery holds its charge as it should.
Water the battery
Forklift batteries require a certain amount of water to stabilize the chemical reactions that take place within it. That’s why your warehouse personnel should always check a battery’s water levels during the forklift battery changing process. Distilled, non-mineral water should always be used, and water should never exceed the fill line.
Any other steps you take to ensure optimal warehouse efficiency and forklift battery care? Share with us and with your fellow readers in the comments. Read more.
