The often overlooked area of any "on-board driven" equipment, and understandably so given the cost of a "non-essential" component. Seats, arm rests, grips, and on down to the ergo mat on the floorboard serve to keep operators safe and comfortable.
Consider that an operator who is comfortable on their assigned equipment is not preoccupied with feeling discomfort and attempting to adapt, possibly unsafely so, the cause of discomfort with what is available in the workplace - is able to focus on the task at hand, and the safety required to do so.
The operator is not without responsibility in the maintaining of these particular items, along with the overall equipment. Creating an environment where owner/manager/operator feel equally invested in the care of the "assets" is key to cost reduction in this matter.
We also need to consider the fatigue that comes from these items when they wear out - excessive vibration, more compacting bounces over bumps/rough terrain, or even missing floor mats that cause engine vibration to travel to the operators legs. Not long into this situation, you could see L&I claims and missed work, etc.!
My 2 cents worth of personal advice: This is a group effort, as mentioned above and also with your equipment service or parts provider. Identify the items that wear out frequently and negotiate a "bulk deal". If you currently are playing catch up on one or several items, negotiate a one time deal to control costs. Also possible, an agreement to buy items in bulk at one time annually, most vendors are more than happy to perpetuate business in this way! If you find a unique method to facilitate this kind of situation, I would love to know about it!
Tom Kassen
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Monday, February 4, 2019
February 2019 Safety Topic of the Month: Cleanliness and Safety
With Spring fast approaching, it feels like the right time to focus on cleaning!
Cleanliness should take priority in a safety program right along side of training and awareness! The obvious prevention of accidents of the personal nature: slip/fall prevention, injury prevention, etc., are the first and obvious benefits of a clean and organized facility, along with an increase in productivity with "everything in it's place" ready to go.
Now how about the material handling equipment?
I have previously mentioned issues with running over items (pallet banding/shrinkwrap, for instance) that are in the path of this equipment. Now I will point out the benefits of keeping your equipment as clean as possible - with the understanding that some working environments are opposite of "clean", it is to your benefit to do the best you can and find better ways when possible.
Starting from the top of a forklift, for example, the view through the overhead guard to the extended mast should be clear (OSHA 1917.43 (e) (1) (ii)), no makeshift covers that block the view are allowed. (ClearCaps' meet the requirement and are easy to clean 😉) Moving downward, I have seen many operators who "customize" their assigned lifts with makeshift pen/knife holders and other accoutrements to make their job easier. I do sympathies with the operators, who spend significantly more time with their lift than I do, inevitably though, I end up having to completely undo and remove these items just to gain access to the machine for maintenance and/or repair. I have also been on calls where items (tin snips, for example) had fallen into the machine and caused issues: one on a riding pallet jack that could not turn left because the tin snips had fallen in and wedged in such a way to block turning, and the second: on a reach truck, the snips fell down behind the mast. When the mast was raised into the second stage (when the mast segments start to extend) the snips fell into the place where the inner mast rails nested, causing a sensor at the top of the mast to slow the truck down to creep speed. Two takeaways here: the accident potential was increased dramatically, and both calls were dollars spent that could easily been avoided!
This brings me to the next point, things loosely laying on a horizontal surface of equipment: odds are highly likely that they will end up inside, one way or another. The most dangerous possibility is to forget that something is under the seat and open the hood, as the typical forklift configuration will have the object slide right into the engine cooling fan! Running or not, this is extremely dangerous - to operators, equipment mechanics and the equipment itself!! Bottom line - I highly recommend NEVER LEAVING ANYTHING LOOSE SITTING IN A FORKLIFT OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT!
The lower end: check for loose hanging hoses, wires, cables, foreign objects and etc., and have repairs made immediately. Another reason to remove garbage from the floor diligently, a forklift engine cooling fan pulls air from the engine and pushes out through the radiator, out the rear end of the lift. In contrast, an automobile pulls air from the front, through the radiator and into the engine bay. The forklift configuration, being lower to the ground in most indoor applications, creates a vacuum cleaner effect, where loose paper and shrink wrap WILL be sucked into the forklift engine bay. Typically, the result is the material wrapping around the fan - damaging the fan blades, belt, and possibly the water pump, or plastering across the radiator - causing overheating, a lot of down time and costly repairs on all accounts!
Washing a forklift, etc. an integral part of the maintenance cycle, washing with water, or blowing out with compressed air, can help to preserve hydraulic seals, note new leaks, see mechanical failures before they happen as well as many other possibilities! In conclusion, forklift maintenance is a "all hands on" endeavor, making safety easier to achieve.
Thank you for your time!
Tom Kassen
Cleanliness should take priority in a safety program right along side of training and awareness! The obvious prevention of accidents of the personal nature: slip/fall prevention, injury prevention, etc., are the first and obvious benefits of a clean and organized facility, along with an increase in productivity with "everything in it's place" ready to go.
Now how about the material handling equipment?
I have previously mentioned issues with running over items (pallet banding/shrinkwrap, for instance) that are in the path of this equipment. Now I will point out the benefits of keeping your equipment as clean as possible - with the understanding that some working environments are opposite of "clean", it is to your benefit to do the best you can and find better ways when possible.
Starting from the top of a forklift, for example, the view through the overhead guard to the extended mast should be clear (OSHA 1917.43 (e) (1) (ii)), no makeshift covers that block the view are allowed. (ClearCaps' meet the requirement and are easy to clean 😉) Moving downward, I have seen many operators who "customize" their assigned lifts with makeshift pen/knife holders and other accoutrements to make their job easier. I do sympathies with the operators, who spend significantly more time with their lift than I do, inevitably though, I end up having to completely undo and remove these items just to gain access to the machine for maintenance and/or repair. I have also been on calls where items (tin snips, for example) had fallen into the machine and caused issues: one on a riding pallet jack that could not turn left because the tin snips had fallen in and wedged in such a way to block turning, and the second: on a reach truck, the snips fell down behind the mast. When the mast was raised into the second stage (when the mast segments start to extend) the snips fell into the place where the inner mast rails nested, causing a sensor at the top of the mast to slow the truck down to creep speed. Two takeaways here: the accident potential was increased dramatically, and both calls were dollars spent that could easily been avoided!
This brings me to the next point, things loosely laying on a horizontal surface of equipment: odds are highly likely that they will end up inside, one way or another. The most dangerous possibility is to forget that something is under the seat and open the hood, as the typical forklift configuration will have the object slide right into the engine cooling fan! Running or not, this is extremely dangerous - to operators, equipment mechanics and the equipment itself!! Bottom line - I highly recommend NEVER LEAVING ANYTHING LOOSE SITTING IN A FORKLIFT OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT!
The lower end: check for loose hanging hoses, wires, cables, foreign objects and etc., and have repairs made immediately. Another reason to remove garbage from the floor diligently, a forklift engine cooling fan pulls air from the engine and pushes out through the radiator, out the rear end of the lift. In contrast, an automobile pulls air from the front, through the radiator and into the engine bay. The forklift configuration, being lower to the ground in most indoor applications, creates a vacuum cleaner effect, where loose paper and shrink wrap WILL be sucked into the forklift engine bay. Typically, the result is the material wrapping around the fan - damaging the fan blades, belt, and possibly the water pump, or plastering across the radiator - causing overheating, a lot of down time and costly repairs on all accounts!
Washing a forklift, etc. an integral part of the maintenance cycle, washing with water, or blowing out with compressed air, can help to preserve hydraulic seals, note new leaks, see mechanical failures before they happen as well as many other possibilities! In conclusion, forklift maintenance is a "all hands on" endeavor, making safety easier to achieve.
Thank you for your time!
Tom Kassen
Friday, January 4, 2019
January 2019 Safety Topic: The Real Cost of In House Maintenance
Happy New Year!!! I hope your holiday season has been wonderful!!!
While making sales calls, I have noted a several companies prefer to handle their forklifts and other highway equipment in house. I absolutely understand the move to control costs, and in some cases the flexibility to have work done immediately and/or during slower shifts will always outweigh an "outsider" setting their own schedule.
If you are trying to decide to go "in house", or have already made the move, I would like to point out a couple of things. In my travels, it is very rare to come across an in house mechanic who is specifically trained on all of the issues pertaining to forklift safety. OHSA has several specific points of concern regarding forklift operation and safety, and fines levied from OSHA for violations seem to start at $10,000.00!!! (my own personal observation). In house mechanics need to be flexible enough to work on anything, and in some cases forklift/ equipment maintenance/repair is one of multiple maintenance department assigned. The unfortunate truth is a general mentality that forklift/equipment maintenance is no different than an oil change for a car. As it is possible to incur a fine for a missed "maintenance" item on a forklift and not on a car - there is a HUGE difference! Now when you look at the cost savings of in house work, is it worth the risk?
Some possible solutions and reasons why to consider calling in reinforcements:
Even if you only call in an outside company to perform an annual safety inspection, not only do you gain a professional point of view, now you have a partner to protect your interests. One service call once or twice a year can save cost in downtime and accidents caused by mechanical failure, not to mention those pesky fines!
The bottom line is, make sure you have all of your bases covered to protect ALL of your investments!!
We would love to talk to you about your equipment maintenance needs! We want to work with you to provide the program that is right for your unique situation - if that is an annual inspection, or enrolling in our Scheduled Preventative Maintenance program (fully tailored to you AND your budget's needs!)
Thank you for your time, looking forward to providing you service (and more!) in 2019!!!
Tom Kassen
(509) 939-0926
tomkassen@mobilemachineryservice.com
While making sales calls, I have noted a several companies prefer to handle their forklifts and other highway equipment in house. I absolutely understand the move to control costs, and in some cases the flexibility to have work done immediately and/or during slower shifts will always outweigh an "outsider" setting their own schedule.
If you are trying to decide to go "in house", or have already made the move, I would like to point out a couple of things. In my travels, it is very rare to come across an in house mechanic who is specifically trained on all of the issues pertaining to forklift safety. OHSA has several specific points of concern regarding forklift operation and safety, and fines levied from OSHA for violations seem to start at $10,000.00!!! (my own personal observation). In house mechanics need to be flexible enough to work on anything, and in some cases forklift/ equipment maintenance/repair is one of multiple maintenance department assigned. The unfortunate truth is a general mentality that forklift/equipment maintenance is no different than an oil change for a car. As it is possible to incur a fine for a missed "maintenance" item on a forklift and not on a car - there is a HUGE difference! Now when you look at the cost savings of in house work, is it worth the risk?
Some possible solutions and reasons why to consider calling in reinforcements:
Even if you only call in an outside company to perform an annual safety inspection, not only do you gain a professional point of view, now you have a partner to protect your interests. One service call once or twice a year can save cost in downtime and accidents caused by mechanical failure, not to mention those pesky fines!
The bottom line is, make sure you have all of your bases covered to protect ALL of your investments!!
We would love to talk to you about your equipment maintenance needs! We want to work with you to provide the program that is right for your unique situation - if that is an annual inspection, or enrolling in our Scheduled Preventative Maintenance program (fully tailored to you AND your budget's needs!)
Thank you for your time, looking forward to providing you service (and more!) in 2019!!!
Tom Kassen
(509) 939-0926
tomkassen@mobilemachineryservice.com
Monday, December 3, 2018
December 2018 Safety Topic of the Month: Maintaining Equipment Operating Areas
This month let's look beyond the equipment and identify the potentially numerous hazards to equipment, operators, pedestrians, etc.
A short list of factors to consider, the list for your facility may have more:
1. Clutter in designated driveways - from solid objects to garbage.
2. Water on concrete/pavement
3. Pedestrians in driveways
4. Customers driving through driveways/parking lots.
5. Uneven driveways - broken or cracked concrete, potholes in pavement and/or dirt, etc.
Clutter - Between breakdown calls and issues found on maintenance,one of the most consistent causes of repair calls that I have known. One call involved a forklift fire - in a second hand store warehouse, the operator had driven the forklift over a pile of clothes on the floor, causing the clothes to "ride" up the rear tires and wedge in next to the exhaust pipe and muffler. Very fortunately for the employees there, the forklift had a fire extinguisher on board and they were able to put out the fire before it grew, and potentially reached the nearby propane tank. And I have lost count of all the times I have found shrink wrap or banding material wrapped in an axle! I'm sure it seems innocent enough to run over the top of these items - until that breakdown call has to be made! Everything from wheels, wheel bearings, steering, to brakes and brake lines are affected by garbage from the floor! Obviously, there is a hint here that operator training comes into play - I plan on covering this soon!
Water - Standing water on a driveway surface is a real issue with off highway equipment! Forklifts, tractors, etc. weigh at least twice as much as a car or "light truck", and react differently to driving situations. You may have experienced "hydroplaning" in a car - where the tires "are driving ON the water", causing a lack of steering control and a feeling of driving on ice. As the weight is doubled in this off highway equipment, so is the effect of hydroplaning! It is far more difficult to regain control in this situation, and usually less room to maneuver. I had a call in a warehouse for a post accident safety inspection a riding pallet jack. the operator lost control of the jack in standing water, and ran into the nearby pallet racking. The operator had his foot off of the standing deck next to the jacks "bumper" when contact with the rack happened, causing a severe injury. I found the jack to be in working order, which pointed the finger at the operator for the accident cause. It was a sad case for everyone involved. Out of doors, puddles in either dirt or pavement have caused their fair share of breakdown calls. The common misnomer that a puddle "is not that deep" causes many problems: equipment getting "high centered" in the puddle, and issues caused by the impact of "hitting" the pothole. On forklifts, lift chains, and over mast hoses and cables stretch rapidly, and OSHA has requirements in regard to lift chain stretch! (I will cover lift chains soon!) Lastly, splashing dirt/water into modern equipment jeopardizes electric components and wire connections (in every repair manual I have seen, "check connectors for water/dirt" is the first step in diagnostics).
Pedestrians - As mush as operators are trained to operate equipment, pedestrians should be trained to look out for equipment! Maintain an "ever vigilant" environment between operators and pedestrians, promote eye contact and NEVER ASSUME your surroundings. Properly mark pedestrian walkways with guard rails, barricades, and safety marking tape. Also mark designated equipment operating areas to keep pedestrians out of walkways. If your customers will be in areas where equipment is operating, it is imperative to temporarily close off isles! I am not sure if this is a requirement (OSHA or otherwise) at this time, I will update after I research this.
Customers - The greatest variable to your safety program! Signage is key to short term education on your particular safe practises. Consider customer traffic flow in your facility, and if updates are needed to make everyone safer. Beyond that, train your staff to be VERY cautious and aware when working around customers. A video recently posted on Facebook by our friends at Toyota Lift of Minnesota captures the reality of this issue:
Be Aware and Wary When Working Around Forklift Trucks
Uneven driveways - Uneven driveways cause the same damage as potholes and more. One puddle can usually be avoided, an entire driveway cannot! Uneven driveways cause "all day, every day" wear and tear on your equipment, and OPERATORS! Frequent breakdown calls to L&I claims should be weighed in the cost analysis of paving/repaving driveways!
Thank you all for your time and patronage this year!
If you have any comments about this topic or suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact us!
Looking for solutions for your facility? Contact us! (509) 939-0926 Our online catalog has safety items as well as material handling options!
You can find our catalog on mobilemachineryservice.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
A short list of factors to consider, the list for your facility may have more:
1. Clutter in designated driveways - from solid objects to garbage.
2. Water on concrete/pavement
3. Pedestrians in driveways
4. Customers driving through driveways/parking lots.
5. Uneven driveways - broken or cracked concrete, potholes in pavement and/or dirt, etc.
Clutter - Between breakdown calls and issues found on maintenance,one of the most consistent causes of repair calls that I have known. One call involved a forklift fire - in a second hand store warehouse, the operator had driven the forklift over a pile of clothes on the floor, causing the clothes to "ride" up the rear tires and wedge in next to the exhaust pipe and muffler. Very fortunately for the employees there, the forklift had a fire extinguisher on board and they were able to put out the fire before it grew, and potentially reached the nearby propane tank. And I have lost count of all the times I have found shrink wrap or banding material wrapped in an axle! I'm sure it seems innocent enough to run over the top of these items - until that breakdown call has to be made! Everything from wheels, wheel bearings, steering, to brakes and brake lines are affected by garbage from the floor! Obviously, there is a hint here that operator training comes into play - I plan on covering this soon!
Water - Standing water on a driveway surface is a real issue with off highway equipment! Forklifts, tractors, etc. weigh at least twice as much as a car or "light truck", and react differently to driving situations. You may have experienced "hydroplaning" in a car - where the tires "are driving ON the water", causing a lack of steering control and a feeling of driving on ice. As the weight is doubled in this off highway equipment, so is the effect of hydroplaning! It is far more difficult to regain control in this situation, and usually less room to maneuver. I had a call in a warehouse for a post accident safety inspection a riding pallet jack. the operator lost control of the jack in standing water, and ran into the nearby pallet racking. The operator had his foot off of the standing deck next to the jacks "bumper" when contact with the rack happened, causing a severe injury. I found the jack to be in working order, which pointed the finger at the operator for the accident cause. It was a sad case for everyone involved. Out of doors, puddles in either dirt or pavement have caused their fair share of breakdown calls. The common misnomer that a puddle "is not that deep" causes many problems: equipment getting "high centered" in the puddle, and issues caused by the impact of "hitting" the pothole. On forklifts, lift chains, and over mast hoses and cables stretch rapidly, and OSHA has requirements in regard to lift chain stretch! (I will cover lift chains soon!) Lastly, splashing dirt/water into modern equipment jeopardizes electric components and wire connections (in every repair manual I have seen, "check connectors for water/dirt" is the first step in diagnostics).
Pedestrians - As mush as operators are trained to operate equipment, pedestrians should be trained to look out for equipment! Maintain an "ever vigilant" environment between operators and pedestrians, promote eye contact and NEVER ASSUME your surroundings. Properly mark pedestrian walkways with guard rails, barricades, and safety marking tape. Also mark designated equipment operating areas to keep pedestrians out of walkways. If your customers will be in areas where equipment is operating, it is imperative to temporarily close off isles! I am not sure if this is a requirement (OSHA or otherwise) at this time, I will update after I research this.
Customers - The greatest variable to your safety program! Signage is key to short term education on your particular safe practises. Consider customer traffic flow in your facility, and if updates are needed to make everyone safer. Beyond that, train your staff to be VERY cautious and aware when working around customers. A video recently posted on Facebook by our friends at Toyota Lift of Minnesota captures the reality of this issue:
Be Aware and Wary When Working Around Forklift Trucks
Uneven driveways - Uneven driveways cause the same damage as potholes and more. One puddle can usually be avoided, an entire driveway cannot! Uneven driveways cause "all day, every day" wear and tear on your equipment, and OPERATORS! Frequent breakdown calls to L&I claims should be weighed in the cost analysis of paving/repaving driveways!
Thank you all for your time and patronage this year!
If you have any comments about this topic or suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact us!
Looking for solutions for your facility? Contact us! (509) 939-0926 Our online catalog has safety items as well as material handling options!
You can find our catalog on mobilemachineryservice.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2018
November 2018 Safety Topic of the Month: Factory Service Intervals - Keeping Your Fleet Safe
This month, I want to focus on factory recommended service intervals as this pertains to every kind of equipment, on or off road.
Typically, the interval chart is located in the operator's manual that should have come with the equipment when first purchased. If yours is missing, any dealer for the specific brand should be able to provide a hard copy for you, and I have found that most are readily available online and easily found with a quick search. Some older model machines have a decal "under the hood" or inside an access panel with the basic intervals listed.
And how does this tie into safety and not just become a cheap maintenance sales ploy?
I will try my best to keep the sales pitch to a dull roar!
Simply stated, maintenance and factory maintenance intervals SHOULD be utilized to keep things in check so there is a clear communication of what is functioning correctly, and what needs to be addressed. I believe in doing what is best for the equipment while factoring in actual usage and keeping a customers budget in mind - planning repairs in the future when possible to buffer costs, coordinate with downtime, etc.
Now I have mentioned two different types of maintenance practices, so I will break those down:
1. Maintenance: AKA preventative maintenance, scheduled maintenance, etc.
This is the basic, meat and potatoes service that should include oil change, filter replacement, chassis lube, a basic safety and operational inspection, etc. This type of maintenance is performed on a schedule based on equipment hours/miles and/or an agreed upon time table with respect to operational demand. This type of maintenance can be used to set the time frame for factory service interval work and other repairs.
2. Factory Service Interval Maintenance: These standards are set by the equipment manufacture to achieve the optimum overall life and efficiency. The intervals set a time frame (hours/miles and/or time) for inspection and/or replacement of crucial systems, wearable parts, oils & fluids. By nature, this helps to prevent "over maintaining" by setting time frames for items to be serviced. Also to note, these interval charts do include the oil change (maintenance #1) time frames as well.
I have found that using these types of maintenance practices together is a good way to maintain equipment, with the benefits of scheduling simultaneously to maximize downtime and budgeting (both monetarily and time) interval maintenance together.
And the safety angle in all of this...
With a preventative maintenance program in place, monitoring and planning interval maintenance before a breakdown occurs, will prevent unsafe conditions before they can happen - which will always be when you need that piece of equipment the most!!!
We would love to help you with your preventative maintenance and Interval maintenance needs!
Please contact us to schedule your next service! (509) 939-0926
Thank you for your time!
As always, I welcome a discussion about this or any other safety topic!
Tom Kassen
Typically, the interval chart is located in the operator's manual that should have come with the equipment when first purchased. If yours is missing, any dealer for the specific brand should be able to provide a hard copy for you, and I have found that most are readily available online and easily found with a quick search. Some older model machines have a decal "under the hood" or inside an access panel with the basic intervals listed.
And how does this tie into safety and not just become a cheap maintenance sales ploy?
I will try my best to keep the sales pitch to a dull roar!
Simply stated, maintenance and factory maintenance intervals SHOULD be utilized to keep things in check so there is a clear communication of what is functioning correctly, and what needs to be addressed. I believe in doing what is best for the equipment while factoring in actual usage and keeping a customers budget in mind - planning repairs in the future when possible to buffer costs, coordinate with downtime, etc.
Now I have mentioned two different types of maintenance practices, so I will break those down:
1. Maintenance: AKA preventative maintenance, scheduled maintenance, etc.
This is the basic, meat and potatoes service that should include oil change, filter replacement, chassis lube, a basic safety and operational inspection, etc. This type of maintenance is performed on a schedule based on equipment hours/miles and/or an agreed upon time table with respect to operational demand. This type of maintenance can be used to set the time frame for factory service interval work and other repairs.
2. Factory Service Interval Maintenance: These standards are set by the equipment manufacture to achieve the optimum overall life and efficiency. The intervals set a time frame (hours/miles and/or time) for inspection and/or replacement of crucial systems, wearable parts, oils & fluids. By nature, this helps to prevent "over maintaining" by setting time frames for items to be serviced. Also to note, these interval charts do include the oil change (maintenance #1) time frames as well.
I have found that using these types of maintenance practices together is a good way to maintain equipment, with the benefits of scheduling simultaneously to maximize downtime and budgeting (both monetarily and time) interval maintenance together.
And the safety angle in all of this...
With a preventative maintenance program in place, monitoring and planning interval maintenance before a breakdown occurs, will prevent unsafe conditions before they can happen - which will always be when you need that piece of equipment the most!!!
We would love to help you with your preventative maintenance and Interval maintenance needs!
Please contact us to schedule your next service! (509) 939-0926
Thank you for your time!
As always, I welcome a discussion about this or any other safety topic!
Tom Kassen
Monday, October 1, 2018
October 2018 Safety Topic of the Month: Winterizing
With winter rapidly approaching, I want to focus on preparing equipment for colder and wetter conditions.
Starting with the basics, the maintenance end of things:
1. Check the engine antifreeze. Check the level in both the radiator and the reserve bottle (where possible), check the freeze protection temperature (simple squeeze bulb testers are available at automotive parts stores) and make adjustments as necessary. Before the weather turns is a good time to have the cooling system inspected: hoses, antifreeze life, thermostat function etc. are items that will usually not manifest issues until you absolutely do not want them to! Another consideration, in propane systems the coolant is used to heat the fuel going into the (engine). If the coolant level is low, this system will not work, causing the regulator to "ice up", this in effect causes the engine to stall and not start (like "vapor lock" in a car). Then it is a matter of defrosting the regulator, with fuel in it, a potentially dangerous situation.
2. Load test battery. What seems like a fully operational battery may fail the instant the weather turns cold. Performing a load test if the age of the battery is questionable will help determine the remaining lifespan of the battery. While your at it, checking the charging system will only take another couple of minutes, and may spare a battery!
3. Tires: Check tires for proper inflation and tread life. In regard to forklift tires,consider switching to traction tires for the season. On a related note, as best as possible try to remove excessive water or puddles from floor - traction tires are no match for 8,000 to 10,000lbs. in motion! Pull out the tire chains, lay them out and inspect for issues. Check chain tensioners and make sure they can handle another season.
4. Viscosity of Oils. In more extreme climates and when there appears to be a benefit in doing so, a change in engine oil and/or hydraulic fluid weight may be in order. Sticking with manufacturer's guidelines, changing viscosity can help overcome excessive wear and tear as well as increase function in lifting operation. Contact your service provider or your local oil and fluid provider for more information.
5. Take care of your operators! Fatigue increases in cold weather, so do what you can to keep your operators warm and dry. I recommend ClearCap overhead guard covers to keep the rain and snow off. https://clearcap.com/
Call now to schedule any of the above mentioned services or to order a ClearCap for your forklift(s).
Thank you for your time, please feel free to comment on this discussion!
Tom Kassen, Owner/Field Technician
(509) 939-0926
https://mobilemachineryservice.com/
Starting with the basics, the maintenance end of things:
1. Check the engine antifreeze. Check the level in both the radiator and the reserve bottle (where possible), check the freeze protection temperature (simple squeeze bulb testers are available at automotive parts stores) and make adjustments as necessary. Before the weather turns is a good time to have the cooling system inspected: hoses, antifreeze life, thermostat function etc. are items that will usually not manifest issues until you absolutely do not want them to! Another consideration, in propane systems the coolant is used to heat the fuel going into the (engine). If the coolant level is low, this system will not work, causing the regulator to "ice up", this in effect causes the engine to stall and not start (like "vapor lock" in a car). Then it is a matter of defrosting the regulator, with fuel in it, a potentially dangerous situation.
2. Load test battery. What seems like a fully operational battery may fail the instant the weather turns cold. Performing a load test if the age of the battery is questionable will help determine the remaining lifespan of the battery. While your at it, checking the charging system will only take another couple of minutes, and may spare a battery!
3. Tires: Check tires for proper inflation and tread life. In regard to forklift tires,consider switching to traction tires for the season. On a related note, as best as possible try to remove excessive water or puddles from floor - traction tires are no match for 8,000 to 10,000lbs. in motion! Pull out the tire chains, lay them out and inspect for issues. Check chain tensioners and make sure they can handle another season.
4. Viscosity of Oils. In more extreme climates and when there appears to be a benefit in doing so, a change in engine oil and/or hydraulic fluid weight may be in order. Sticking with manufacturer's guidelines, changing viscosity can help overcome excessive wear and tear as well as increase function in lifting operation. Contact your service provider or your local oil and fluid provider for more information.
5. Take care of your operators! Fatigue increases in cold weather, so do what you can to keep your operators warm and dry. I recommend ClearCap overhead guard covers to keep the rain and snow off. https://clearcap.com/
Call now to schedule any of the above mentioned services or to order a ClearCap for your forklift(s).
Thank you for your time, please feel free to comment on this discussion!
Tom Kassen, Owner/Field Technician
(509) 939-0926
https://mobilemachineryservice.com/
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
September 2018 Safety Topic of the Month: Tire Wear
Starting here and now, I am going to post safety topics on a monthly basis. Not reinventing the wheel, as just about every forklift dealer has their own blog, the main difference here is relating my personal experiences found in my travels which (I hope) will have some unique insights and information useful to all who read these posts.
Tire Wear:
This particular topic will skew toward forklifts, with a little bit of general application - you have been warned.
Tire wear in forklifts is an ongoing topic of discussion, with a variety of variables involved for what on the surface would seem to be a open and closed, cut and dried, singular aspect of any machine, in truth tires are one of (if not) the most important part of any vehicle. Of course, all of the factors play a significant role in maximizing tire wear. I will attempt to cover as many of these factors in this post - without getting too carried away!
Let's start with a new set of tires - after receiving the bill, you want to do everything in your power to maximize your return on investment! Starting with the forklift operators, cultivate an awareness of safety at the beginning of each shift with the forklift inspection: visually inspect for damage to tire "tread", wheels etc. Look for foreign objects stuck in tires (though a cushion tire will not "go flat", there is a possibility of "chunking" (large chunks of rubber missing from tire) and "delaminating" (rubber separating from the metal rim) if the object is left in a tire.) Also check for uneven wear, front drive tires can wear unevenly due to rapid acceleration ("burnouts") and aggressive accelerating when the drive tire is wet. The typical forklift drive axle acts like a standard differential in an automobile, where only one wheel has power full time. This kind of wear is dangerous on a forklift because it offsets the stability triangle - creating a tipping hazard. Also regarding the drive tires, the standard wear point maximum is at the top of the lettering of the tire size on the side (applicable to steer tires as well), or the "safety line". However, consideration for forward tilt of the mast must be observed as there is only a few inches of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the mast (majority of 2,000 to 5,000lb. forklifts). The ratio of tire wear to the point where the mast will contact the ground is very little, and less on uneven surfaces. Uneven wear of the steer (rear) tires: if the steer tires appear to be tapering to one side, specifically to the inner side, could indicate a wheel bearing or king pin issue and should be addressed immediately. On an electric forklift with solid polyurethane tires, look carefully for flat spots on the face of the tread. Flat spotted tires will cause the forklift to shake and bounce during operation, causing a load to shift and/or fall off of forks, possibly cause internal damage to the forklift, and very unpleasant for the operator, of course!
Next, we want to focus on driving surfaces. Keeping forklift paths free of objects and debris, avoiding potholes and uneven pavement etc. are all good practises for tire health. Make sure to keep shrink wrap and banding materials picked up and away from forklift tires - I have seen many tires, wheel bearings and brakes damaged by just a little of either of these ran over and tangled around a wheel.
Majority of all new forklifts have programmable acceleration, speed restrictions, and other customizable options to help add to forklift tire life. If you are considering purchasing a new or newer forklift, ask your sales representative about these options to see if they are right for you.
A word about pneumatic tires. The basic visual inspection stated above applies to pneumatic tires, with close attention to objects that could cause a puncture of the tire/inner tube and cause a leak. Routine air pressure checks should be performed to extend the life of these tires, and is crucial to the lift/tilt functions in respect to ground clearance and maintaining the stability triangle.
I welcome a dialog on this topic and any other topics of safety that are of concern or interest to you. Thank you for your time!
Tom Kassen, Owner/Field Technician
(509) 939-0926
https://mobilemachineryservice.com/
Tire Wear:
This particular topic will skew toward forklifts, with a little bit of general application - you have been warned.
Tire wear in forklifts is an ongoing topic of discussion, with a variety of variables involved for what on the surface would seem to be a open and closed, cut and dried, singular aspect of any machine, in truth tires are one of (if not) the most important part of any vehicle. Of course, all of the factors play a significant role in maximizing tire wear. I will attempt to cover as many of these factors in this post - without getting too carried away!
Let's start with a new set of tires - after receiving the bill, you want to do everything in your power to maximize your return on investment! Starting with the forklift operators, cultivate an awareness of safety at the beginning of each shift with the forklift inspection: visually inspect for damage to tire "tread", wheels etc. Look for foreign objects stuck in tires (though a cushion tire will not "go flat", there is a possibility of "chunking" (large chunks of rubber missing from tire) and "delaminating" (rubber separating from the metal rim) if the object is left in a tire.) Also check for uneven wear, front drive tires can wear unevenly due to rapid acceleration ("burnouts") and aggressive accelerating when the drive tire is wet. The typical forklift drive axle acts like a standard differential in an automobile, where only one wheel has power full time. This kind of wear is dangerous on a forklift because it offsets the stability triangle - creating a tipping hazard. Also regarding the drive tires, the standard wear point maximum is at the top of the lettering of the tire size on the side (applicable to steer tires as well), or the "safety line". However, consideration for forward tilt of the mast must be observed as there is only a few inches of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the mast (majority of 2,000 to 5,000lb. forklifts). The ratio of tire wear to the point where the mast will contact the ground is very little, and less on uneven surfaces. Uneven wear of the steer (rear) tires: if the steer tires appear to be tapering to one side, specifically to the inner side, could indicate a wheel bearing or king pin issue and should be addressed immediately. On an electric forklift with solid polyurethane tires, look carefully for flat spots on the face of the tread. Flat spotted tires will cause the forklift to shake and bounce during operation, causing a load to shift and/or fall off of forks, possibly cause internal damage to the forklift, and very unpleasant for the operator, of course!
Next, we want to focus on driving surfaces. Keeping forklift paths free of objects and debris, avoiding potholes and uneven pavement etc. are all good practises for tire health. Make sure to keep shrink wrap and banding materials picked up and away from forklift tires - I have seen many tires, wheel bearings and brakes damaged by just a little of either of these ran over and tangled around a wheel.
Majority of all new forklifts have programmable acceleration, speed restrictions, and other customizable options to help add to forklift tire life. If you are considering purchasing a new or newer forklift, ask your sales representative about these options to see if they are right for you.
A word about pneumatic tires. The basic visual inspection stated above applies to pneumatic tires, with close attention to objects that could cause a puncture of the tire/inner tube and cause a leak. Routine air pressure checks should be performed to extend the life of these tires, and is crucial to the lift/tilt functions in respect to ground clearance and maintaining the stability triangle.
I welcome a dialog on this topic and any other topics of safety that are of concern or interest to you. Thank you for your time!
Tom Kassen, Owner/Field Technician
(509) 939-0926
https://mobilemachineryservice.com/
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