Forklift safety is the most important responsibility of the forklift operator. An important part of ensuring forklift safety is the pre-shift inspection, which should be completed before the start of every shift. According to OSHA, one in 15 forklift-related accidents is caused by improper maintenance. A thorough pre-shift inspection can identify maintenance problems before they cause an accident.

This video walks you through a basic pre-shift inspection, but is not intended to replace the official operator's manual for your specific truck. Please refer to the operator's manual for specific information regarding the pre-shift inspection for your model. Always ensure you have read the operator's manual in its entirety before operating an unfamiliar forklift model.