When Can an OSHA Pre-Shift Inspection be Skipped

Do your operators skip OSHA pre-shift inspection? It’s a topic that most companies don’t want to talk about due to OSHA compliance. However, it happens. Forklift operators drive off without completing a pre-shift inspection. What can be done to enforce it? That’s where a forklift safety system comes in…and the ability to skip OSHA pre-shift inspection.

Why Can’t I Skip OSHA Pre-Shift Forklift Inspection?

It is true that OSHA requires all lift trucks to be inspected at least daily or after the completion of a shift especially when it has been in use for 24 hours. The purpose of the forklift inspection is to prevent costly forklift repairs but also to contribute to a safe working environment for not only the drivers but all of the workers and pedestrians that work in the same space.

Forklift accidents occur when the inspection isn’t completed. For instance, a forklift driver was carrying a heavy uneven long load. As the forklift was turning to load it onto the trailer, the forklift began to turn on its side. The forklift driver didn’t recall his training, and jumped from the forklift killing the operator instantly. Later, it was discovered that the steering was not working properly which contributed to the accident.

Forklift Safety Systems

Forklift safety systems are becoming more popular with safety professionals as it doesn’t allow the operator to skip pre-shift forklift inspection. It’s all done digitally so the information can be collected and analyzed in one location. The cloud based telemetry Dashboard. Now the question the forklift operators and their managers want to know is: can the operator skip the OSHA pre-shift forklift inspection. The answer is both yes and no.

When Can You Skip OSHA Pre-Shift Forklift Inspection

This is a perfect feature especially if you run multiple shifts. Within the SIERA.AI forklift safety system, if the authorized manager adds a shift to the Dashboard, then it will become mandated to perform a forklift inspection per shift. The default shift is set to 8 hours, and the time begins to count as soon as the forklift operator logs into the forklift safety system.

Here’s where the operator can skip OSHA pre-shift forklift inspection. After the inspection has been completed, the operator can log in countless times and will receive the option of skipping the inspection. If the operator needs to exit the forklift to complete a task and is ready to move on, this is where this feature becomes very useful. However, once the shift is completed, the forklift inspection will need to be completed by the next operator starting their shift.

Failed Forklift Inspections

What happens if the forklift failed their pre-shift inspection? The time as we discussed above will terminate. At the same time, a notification will be sent to the names that were entered into the Dashboard upon setup. If it’s for 1, 2, or 10 individuals, each will receive a failed inspection notice so action can be taken.

Remember…

Never skip OSHA pre-shift forklift inspection. It can stop an accident from happening, a tragic incident that no company or manager wants to experience. But there are safe ways to skip an inspection with a forklift safety system in order to keep your operation running efficiently and safely. To view how this works in the Dashboard,

Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.