Safety & Compliance
Forklift Daily Safety Checklist for Irish Sites
The pre-use check takes five minutes and is the single cheapest way to prevent both incidents and breakdowns. Here is the full walk-around, in the order that works.
6 min read · Last updated 7 August 2026
A forklift pre-use check should be carried out at the start of every shift by the operator, take around five minutes, and follow a fixed order: a walk-around with the truck switched off, then a set of running checks with the truck stationary. Any defect that affects safe operation means the truck is taken out of service, tagged, and reported before use. Recording the check — paper sheet or app — is what turns it from a habit into evidence.
Part 1 — Walk-around with the truck off
- ›Tyres: cuts, chunking, embedded debris, wear to the 60J line on cushion tyres, correct pressure on pneumatics.
- ›Wheel nuts present and tight; no signs of movement.
- ›Forks: heel wear no more than 10%, no cracks or bends, positive locking pins engaged, both forks the same set.
- ›Carriage, backrest and mast: chains equally tensioned, no stretched links, no leaking hydraulic hose or cylinder.
- ›Overhead guard secure with no cracked welds; no impact damage to the chassis.
- ›Data/capacity plate present and legible, and matching any fitted attachment.
- ›Battery or fuel: connector, cabling and restraints on electric; leaks, LPG bottle security and hose condition on IC trucks.
- ›Fluid levels, and the floor under the truck checked for fresh leaks.
- ›Seat, seatbelt and operator restraint working and undamaged.
Part 2 — Running checks, truck stationary
- ›Key/keypad start and dash warning lights clear after self-test.
- ›Service brake and parking brake both hold on a gradient.
- ›Steering full lock both ways with no excessive play or noise.
- ›Lift, lower, tilt and any side-shift or attachment functions, full travel, no drift when held.
- ›Horn, beacon, reversing alarm, work lights and blue spot light.
- ›Mirrors and camera clean, aimed and undamaged.
- ›Hour meter reading noted for service planning.
- ›Deadman/seat switch cuts drive when the operator leaves the seat.
The 10% fork rule
Fork heel wear above 10% of the original blade thickness cuts the safe capacity by roughly 20%. Forks are a wear item — measure them with a fork calliper rather than judging by eye.
What to do when something fails the check
- Stop. Do not run the truck 'just for this pallet'.
- Park safely, forks down, mast tilted forward, park brake on, key removed.
- Tag the truck out of service so nobody else starts it.
- Report the defect to the supervisor and log it on the check sheet.
- Call the service provider — with the truck's serial number and hour meter reading to hand.
- Only return the truck to service when the repair is recorded.
Recording and record-keeping
Checks that are not recorded are, from an auditor's perspective, checks that did not happen. Keep a check book on each truck or use a simple digital form, retain sheets for at least 12 months, and review the defect trend monthly — repeated hydraulic top-ups or brake complaints usually predict a failure that a planned maintenance visit could have caught cheaply.
Store the check records alongside the truck's Thorough Examination report and the operators' training certificates. Those three items together are what an HSA inspector or an insurer will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Written by
The AWE Forklifts Team
Materials handling engineers, trainers and account managers, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin
AWE has supplied, hired, serviced and inspected materials handling equipment for Irish industry since 1985. Our guides are written by the same engineers who service the trucks, the instructors who deliver operator training, and the account managers who quote the hire rates — not by outside copywriters.
- Trading in Ireland since 1985
- Authorised Xilin forklift dealer for Ireland
- Official MasterMover electric tug distributor for Ireland
- Dublin workshop, parts store and training facility
- Nationwide mobile engineers, 4-hour contract SLA
Technically reviewed by AWE service department, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.
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