With nearly one million forklifts hard at work every day in the U.S., coupled with strict OSHA rules to ensure adherence to a specified maintenance schedule,
The numbers tell a compelling tale and underscore why safety is a top priority.
According to the Industrial Truck Association, there are about 855,900 forklifts in the U.S. and OSHA estimates that each year forklift accidents result in 34,900 injuries that are classified as “serious” and 61,800 that are “non-serious.”
“Operator training is essential,” noted Peter Bowers, technical sales manager for Stertil-Koni. “But so is regular forklift maintenance.”
OSHA has specific rules surrounding the maintenance of industrial trucks which include forklifts. These are found under the compliance section 1910.178(q). Most experts recommend that any lift truck which gets continuous use be serviced by a fully trained and licensed technician on a regular basis. Oil changes, greasing and mast adjustment are just a few of the checklist items.
But forklifts pose other challenges. These are heavy vehicles and their weight is not evenly distributed.
“That’s precisely why,” continued Bowers, “Stertil-Koni has engineered our Fork Lift Adaptors.”
“The result is a quick, safe and reliable way to perform wheels-free lifting and forklift servicing that is ergonomically designed with the vehicle and the technician in mind,” stated Bowers.
