A pre-shift check for powered industrial trucks: visual checks, fluids, operational tests and sign-off.
Daily checks find worn tires, leaking hydraulics and faulty brakes before they cause an incident. They take a few minutes.
OSHA requires powered industrial trucks to be examined before being placed in service, at least daily or after each shift when used around the clock. Follow the manufacturer’s checklist for your model as well.
20 items. Complete it digitally or on paper, whichever your team prefers.
On the morning check, an operator finds the horn does not work. She tags the truck out of service and reports it; maintenance replaces a fuse and the truck returns to service an hour later.
OSHA’s powered industrial truck standard requires trucks to be examined before being placed in service, at least daily, and after each shift when used around the clock. A signed record per truck shows the exam happened and that defects were caught before someone drove the truck.
| Operator and date | Carmen, Tuesday first shift |
|---|---|
| Truck number and hours | FL-07, 6,412 hours |
| Forks and mast | No cracks; chains lubricated |
| Fuel or power | Propane tank 3/4, valve and hose OK |
| Horn and lights | Horn OK; rear strobe not working |
| Brakes and steering | OK |
| Defects and status | Strobe reported to maintenance; truck tagged out until fixed |
The truck is tagged out for a non-working strobe because the site uses strobes as its pedestrian warning, so the operator treats it as a safety defect, not a cosmetic one.
Before being placed in service, at least daily, or after each shift in round-the-clock use.
Usually the trained operator.
Remove the truck from service until repaired.
Per your policy; keep them with maintenance records.
OSHA rules say a truck that needs repair or is defective in any way that affects safety must be taken out of service until fixed. A small hydraulic leak can mean a failing hose or seal and leaves a slip hazard on the floor. Tag it out and let maintenance decide, rather than judging it yourself mid-shift.
The structure is the same, but the fluids section differs. Electric trucks need battery charge, cable and connector checks and a look for electrolyte spills, while propane trucks need the tank secured, the valve and hose checked and no smell of gas. Use a checklist version that matches each truck’s power source.
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In EZTime, a routine like this can run as a recurring task assigned to a person, team or location, with photo proof and an alert when it is late. Book a demo to see it with your team.