Cold, wet, and windy weather can be challenging for employees who work outside. Routine tasks such as loading or unloading wagons become considerably less straightforward in wintry conditions. With climate change likely to bring even more extreme weather, it is increasingly necessary to take steps to ‘winter-proof’ material handling operations. By adopting a proactive approach, it is possible to mitigate the impact of adverse weather and ensure that both materials handling equipment (MHE) and workers remain safe and productive throughout the winter season. Forklift safety should be a priority during these colder months to avoid accidents and ensure your fleet’s efficiency.
Choosing the Correct Tyres for Winter Conditions
The right tyres are always essential for optimum forklift productivity and safety. However, when the weather is cold and wet, the wheel casing you choose for your MHE becomes even more critical.
Solid pneumatic tyres withstand the impact of loose debris that builds up during the winter months, making them ideal for forklift safety in harsh conditions. For snow and ice, air-filled pneumatic tyres with large treads should be considered. It’s also important to check that your tyres have enough tread to maintain grip on slippery terrain.
Identifying Risk Areas to Ensure Forklift Safety
As temperatures approach freezing, snow and ice reduce grip on roads and driveways. Winter also brings the appearance of potholes in outdoor spaces where trucks operate. To ensure forklift safety, it's vital to identify any risk areas on your premises that are particularly affected by winter weather. These typically include large areas like car parks, entrances, slopes, and walkways.
Potholes that form over the winter should be repaired as soon as possible to limit potential damage to the axle and tyres of your trucks. Regular checks for icy patches and other hazards can also prevent accidents.
Reviewing Battery Maintenance for Forklifts in Winter
Correct maintenance of your forklift batteries is crucial in prolonging battery life throughout the year. However, during the winter months, neglecting key checks can quickly affect a lift truck’s performance. Cold weather can greatly reduce battery life and run time, so forklift safety can be compromised if proper maintenance isn't carried out.
Maintaining proper water levels in lead-acid batteries and limiting exposure to cold weather as much as possible are essential for electric forklifts. Consider increasing the number of batteries you have on hand to reduce potential downtime caused by battery issues.
Ensuring Forklift and Personnel Visibility
In areas where forklifts and pedestrians mix, good lighting is especially important during the winter months. For forklift safety, check that outside spaces are well-lit, not only in the evenings when darkness falls quickly but also during early mornings when visibility is poor.
Forklift lights serve as a warning system to prevent accidents and provide drivers with better visibility. When operators can drive safely, productivity remains high even during the winter. If necessary, additional work or warning lights for forklifts can be easily and inexpensively retrofitted. Toyota offers a wide selection of lighting solutions designed to be durable and reliable in even the most intensive operations.
Planning Ahead for Winter Forklift Safety
If your operation involves working outside, you can be sure that winter conditions will impact you at some point. It’s essential to understand how severe weather could affect your site and employees, which is why forklift safety should be planned ahead of time.
Managers should consider potential hazards, such as a prolonged period of freezing temperatures, that could bring additional risks to their site and employees. It could be worth considering additional training for forklift operators, ensuring they are confident driving in cold, wet, snowy, and icy conditions. Providing appropriate workwear for freezing conditions also helps ensure that your employees stay safe.
Conclusion: Winter-Proof Your Operations for Forklift Safety
Taking proactive steps to protect your forklift fleet and personnel in winter is crucial to ensure forklift safety and productivity. From selecting the right tyres to improving visibility and reviewing battery maintenance, these actions can help you manage winter challenges effectively. Planning ahead and providing the necessary training and equipment will keep your fleet running smoothly during the colder months. To find out more about solutions, check Toyota Material Handling
