A forklift pre-use inspection combines a visual check before starting with an operational check performed by an authorised, trained operator under the manufacturer’s instructions and workplace procedure. Use a checklist for the actual truck and attachments. Report unsafe or potentially unsafe conditions promptly and keep affected equipment out of use until it is assessed and released through the workplace process.
Start with the correct inspection form
CCOHS recommends checking the truck daily, including at the start of each shift and before use. Confirm the required frequency, documentation and responsibilities with your workplace and relevant jurisdiction. The form should identify the truck, date, shift and operator, and reflect its power system and attachments. This overview helps organise that form; it does not provide operating authorisation or replace the machine’s manual, training or scheduled maintenance.
Visual check: truck, load-handling equipment and surroundings
The approved visual check should cover wheels and tyres; forks, retaining devices and carriage; mast, chains and visible hydraulic components; guards, seat and restraints; and any fitted attachment. Look for visible damage, missing or loose items, unusual leakage and obstructed access. Include the surrounding floor, overhead clearance and nearby obstructions. Readable identification and capacity information matter too. Do not reach into the mast or dismantle components to investigate a concern.
Use power-system checks that match the machine
An electric truck and an engine-powered truck need different inspection items. Battery restraints, visible cables and connections may be relevant to one; specified engine fluids and fuel-system condition to another. Follow the exact manufacturer’s procedure and your training. Battery chemistry matters: a lead-acid checklist must not be applied indiscriminately to a lithium-ion system. Charging, refuelling, opening equipment and maintenance work require their own approved procedures.
Operational check: follow the approved procedure
When the visual findings permit proceeding, the trained operator checks the functions required by the truck’s procedure in a suitable, clear area. These commonly include steering, service and parking brakes, controls, instruments, horn, lights, warning devices and load-handling functions. Record unusual behaviour, sounds or leaks. This page does not prescribe test speeds, lift heights or brake-test manoeuvres; the correct method depends on the machine and controlled workplace conditions.
If a defect is found, stop the handover
Do not put a truck with an unsafe or potentially unsafe condition into service. Report the finding to the responsible supervisor and follow the workplace process for securing the equipment against use. A warning tag is not, by itself, a complete energy-isolation procedure. Repairs and any required isolation must be handled by authorised people. Record who assessed the defect and authorised the return to service; a cleared form should never conceal an unresolved problem.
Make the record useful for the next person
Record the actual findings, relevant meter reading if required, person notified, equipment status and follow-up. Continue monitoring during use; a completed morning check does not resolve a fault that appears later. Retention requirements are jurisdiction-specific: WorkSafeBC, for example, sets requirements for defect records in its mobile-equipment regulation. For a purchase, ask how manuals, inspection forms, service support and attachment documentation will be supplied with the truck.