It could be simple to neglect the essential tire, when it comes to the maintenance of the forklift. When you choose the wrong tire for your forklift, you could put large increases on your operating costs, and more significantly increase your safety risks. If however, you select right kind of tire you can enjoy improved safety, substantial cost-savings and an overall more effective operation. A correctly selected tire could really lessen the downtime for replacement and potentially last 40 percent longer.
Tires are really somewhat complex parts on the machine; thus, it is easy to pick the wrong type accidentally. There are lots of different kinds of tires and brands, with a wide range of treads and compounds. This means you need to be fully prepared with the right information when you are purchasing tires so that you can choose some safe and tough options to help extend the life of your forklift.
Your company should decide on the particular tire for their machine according to the kind of surface the machine will be operated on. Smoother surfaces and indoor applications for example, will usually use tires of a smaller size and made from rubber. On the contrary, outdoor applications need pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires have a rubber tread and are filled with compressed air. These characteristics give them a great grip on uneven and rough surfaces.
Lift Truck Tire Safety
Each year, 200 individuals are killed in lift truck or forklift related accidents each year. Ensuring forklift safety, like for example proper inspection practices, can all contribute in to preventing these horrible and dangerous mishaps from happening.
Pre-Work Check
The tires of the forklift have to be inspected before each shift. Tires must ideally have the proper air pressure, that is set by the tire manufacturer. This is really important because if the tire pressure is very low, the machinery could accidentally tip over when a load is being lifted.
Types
For indoor work, forklifts which have solid tires made out of rubber are the most suitable choice.
Other Considerations
Occupational Health and Safety Administration or OSHA places a requirement on the frequent utilization of lift trucks. These lift trucks must be checked at the end of each and every shift. The operator needs to inspect the machinery for any mechanical issues and the tires should be looked over for excessive wear, cuts or obvious tire damage. Any issues which are detected should be dealt with as soon as possible to maintain safety.