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

This video walks you through a basic preshift 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 preshift inspection for your model. Always ensure you have read the operator's manual in its entirety before operating an unfamiliar forklift model.