Lift trucks are used in various environments. They are exposed to shrink wrap, banding materials and other debris from the manufacturing and warehouse process.

Is housekeeping important to the safe and proper operation of a powered industrial truck? … Yes!

OSHA CFR1910.143(a)(3) Housekeeping.
All places of employment shall be kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.

If plastic banding material can hold a 3,000 lb load together, imagine what it can do to brake lines, park brake systems, steering systems and axle seals and bearings when tightly wrapped around the wheels and axles of an operating lift truck!

Ground clearance of lift trucks is generally kept to a minimum for stability concerns. This makes it easy for materials on the floor to get caught in rotating assemblies. The cooling systems are designed to pull air off the floor underneath the truck, push the air through the radiator and out the back of the truck. This creates a “vacuum effect” that sucks debris (i.e. shrink wrap and dust) into the mechanisms and radiator of the lift truck. This can cause damage and overheating.

OSHA CR1910.178(q)(9) basically states it is illegal to operate an overheating lift truck. Why? When overheating, the lift truck does not meet UL classification. It can become a source of ignition for other materials or a fire hazard itself.

Serious or fatal accidents can also be the result of a lift truck damaged by floor debris. It takes only one piece of banding to compromise the brake or steering systems. Operators can lose control of heavy equipment, possibly costing someone their life.

It is important to promote housekeeping within your warehouse. The removal of floor debris hazards matters to everyone’s safety.

Do you have operators in need of lift truck safety training? Contact ProLift to discuss available training and dates.