So you have just a few forklifts - here's a Beginner's Guide

On one hand these are simple machines. On the other they require a thoroughly professional approach. It might be 'just the forklift', but the reality is the forklift you have is an integral aspect of your operations, without which your business would not be the same.

Forklifts are often under-rated or pretty much ignored. Don't be that business. Treat your forklift with care and use it with diligence and it will make your operation more productive, profitable and scalable. Treat it as vital equipment and it will not let you down or be part of a problem. Give your forklift scant regard and it will be expensive to own and operate, and it'll be less efficient in your workflow than you actually need.

Most importantly, the chances are that if you aren't managing the forklift and its use well, one day someone might not finish working their day unscathed. Working with and around forklifts is one of the most common scenes of serious workplace injury and fatality. Don't be that business. Get people home safely every day from your site.

So - forthwith, get a very good grasp of these key points:

Driver control and certification
Equipment standard and servicing
Site procedures

We cover these, and provide the resources to cover most scenarios in our Forklift Toolkit. You'll need to be a Member to access these - Membership starts at $195 + GST pa.

With that done, you might want to take a good look at what it costs your business to run a forklift: do a Total Cost of Operation analysis.

Stay up to date and informed with current Health & Safety in the Workplace information. Talk to other companies who operate sites and equipment like yours. Share what works and doesn't.

Strive to operate the most professional, most efficient and most safe forklift. You, your business and your people deserve no less.

Get help from us if you need it. Start by joining and checking the specific resources which cover these issues. Call us and talk it through. Use our HSW Helpline. Come to our local events. It all starts here.

The Forklift Association is New Zealand's Association for all Forklift Customers and related Suppliers.

We seek the most productive, safe and innovative forklift solutions for New Zealand's economy.