Daily inspection — the round before the shift

Walk all the way round the truck before you get on. Look for oil or hydraulic stains on the floor under the truck and the mast — a fresh stain is a sign of a leak that must be found. Look for visible damage, loose parts and foreign objects in and around the truck. Clear the operator's position of loose items.

A spot on the floor is the cheapest fault report you will get all day — take it seriously.

Check the forks for cracks, bends and wear — especially at the fork heel, where the horizontal arm meets the vertical part, as this is where the load is greatest. The forks must not be worn thinner than 90 % of the original cross-section at the heel. Also check that both forks sit correctly in their notches and are securely locked, so that they cannot slide sideways.

Inspect the mast profile and carriage for dents, cracks and abnormal wear. Lift chains and wire ropes must have no kinks, worn links or loose ends, and they must be lubricated as specified in the operating instructions. A stretched, kinked or cracked chain is taken out of service immediately.

Check the tyres (solid or pneumatic) for cuts, damage and abnormal wear, and the wheels for bends, cracks and loose bolts. If lifting attachments are fitted (fork extensions, clamp, boom), they must be CE-marked, securely locked and have their own load chart for the truck + attachment combination. Fork extensions may be at most 50 % longer than the original forks.

Electric truck: check the charge level and the battery case and connector for damage and visible leaks from cells. Combustion engine: check the levels of fuel, engine oil and coolant and look for leaks at the tank, hoses and engine. Gas truck: inspect the gas hose and coupling for wear and cracks.

Always fasten the seat belt (it works together with the ROPS/FOPS overhead guard). Start the truck and test that lift, lower, tilt and any side shift respond correctly and without abnormal resistance or noises. Test the emergency stop/dead man's switch if one is fitted.

The seat belt must always be fastened — if the truck tips over, it keeps you inside the overhead guard.

Test that both the service brake and parking brake work effectively, that the steering responds without abnormal play, and that the hydraulics lift and lower smoothly without sinking by themselves when the load is held. Check that there are no new leaks after the system has been under pressure.

Check the headlights, rear lights and work lights, and test the horn, reversing alarm, amber roof beacon and any blue/red LED floor light. The warning equipment is what makes the truck visible and audible to pedestrians — it must work before you drive out into an area with traffic.

If a safety-related fault is found, it must be rectified immediately — the truck must not be used until the defect has been corrected. Report the fault to the manager in charge and record the check in the daily inspection log, so that there is traceability for Arbejdstilsynet.

»If in doubt = out of service«. It is never your job to drive a truck with a safety defect.