Most counties require inspections of powered industrial trucks before they are used. Industrial trucks should be examined before being placed in service, and should not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination should be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they should be examined after each shift. Defects, when found, should be immediately reported and corrected.

It is one thing to require it to be done and another to ensure it really happens. All checks should be recorded in writing and countersigned by the operator's supervisor.

Most companies, but not all, attempt to comply with inspection requirements but here are some problems that happen frequently:

1. No list to follow or inadequate lists that are missing items or contain items that do not apply to particular forklifts.
2. Lack of time allotted to complete inspections. Operators and companies are frequently in a hurry, which means inspections may last seconds, if at all.
3. Lack of training on how to properly inspect. Are operators trained to inspect their current makes and models? I have had supposedly well-trained people unable to tell me where the oil dipstick is, which tells me they are not doing inspections.
4. Improper systems in place to deal with problems identified. Sometimes everything is done right, up till the point where paperwork, including issues that need attention, is forwarded for action. If supervisors don't act, things never get fixed, even though reams of paper describe various problems incurred over time, which can be very damaging in a court case.

Site updated October 14, 2008