It could be simple to neglect the essential tire, when it comes to the maintenance of the lift truck. When you pick the wrong tire for your lift truck, you can put huge increases on your operating expenses, and more significantly increase your safety risks. If on the other hand, you pick right type of tire you could enjoy substantial cost-savings, improved safety and an overall more effective operation. A correctly selected tire could actually lessen the downtime for replacement and probably last 40% longer.
Tires are actually somewhat complex components on the machine; hence, it is easy to choose the wrong type accidentally. There are numerous different types of tires and brands, with different compounds and treads. This means you need to be completely prepared with the correct data when you are going shopping for tires so that you could choose some tough and safe options to help prolong the life of your lift truck.
The particular kind of tire chosen for a forklift depends on the kind of surface you would be using the equipment on. For instance, smoother surfaces and indoor applications generally utilize tires that are made from rubber and that are a smaller size. On the contrary, outdoor operations require pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires are filled with compressed air and have a rubber tread. These features give them a great grip on surfaces that are uneven and rough.
Forklift Tire Safety
Every year, 200 individuals are killed in forklift or lift truck related accidents each year. Ensuring lift truck safety, such as proper inspection practices, can all contribute in to avoiding these dangerous and terrible accidents from occurring.
Pre-Work Inspection
Prior to every shift, the lift truck's tires have to be inspected. Ideally, they should have the proper air pressure, as set forth by the manufacturer. This is very essential because if the tire pressure is very low, the machinery could accidentally tip over when a load is being raised.
Types
For indoor work, lift trucks that have solid tires made out of rubber are the most suitable choice.
Other Considerations
OSHA or the Occupational Health and Safety Administration places a requirement on the frequent use of lift trucks. These forklifts should be inspected at the end of every shift. The driver must check the equipment for any mechanical problems and the tires should be looked over for excessive wear, cuts or apparent tire damage. Any issues that are detected need to be addressed as soon as possible to maintain safety.