A Safe Lift Needs a Safety List 5 NEW Forklift Safety Tips

Consider this – cars need oil changes and tires aligned on a regular basis to ensure reliability, safety, and efficiency. Much like cars, forklifts need to be regularly maintained and can be done with a Planned Maintenance schedule. Not only will Planned Maintenance help extend the life of your forklift, it will decrease downtime, increase productivity and increase efficiency. During a Planned Maintenance appointment safety features are checked thoroughly, parts lubricated, fluids leveled, and much more. Facilities and operators rely on forklifts for daily operations, therefore, having even one machine down could be detrimental to the days success.

In August of 2013 a man from Macon County, North Carolina died from CO (Carbon Monoxide) emissions. The North Carolina division of Occupational Safety and Health determined the CO was being emitted by a liquid propane gas powered forklift. It was emitting such high levels of CO that people outside the facility could have been exposed. Performing preventive maintenance would have caught the leak, and may have prevented this tragic loss of life. In material handling, safety is the number one concern for companies and operators.

The type of planned maintenance your forklift needs depends on the type of machine you have. There are gas and propane units as well as electric.

ForkliftSafety

Here is where the NEW – yet old faithful – forklift safety tips come into play…

Forklift maintenance and safety is key, however at Southeast Industrial Equipment we also believe that training the operator of your forklift is just as important. If not more. When your warehouse, distribution center, or facility is poorly lite, loud, and/or has narrow aisles you need highly trained operators to keep the entire operation as safe as possible. Here are some tips to keep everyone from your operators, to pedestrians in and around the forklifts safe at all times.

  1. Be aware of your surroundings
    • Additional safety lights should be added to your forklift for greater visibility and pedestrian awareness.
    • Utilizing the forklift back-up alarms and horns to let everyone around you know you are approaching.
    • Being space-conscious when working in and around narrow aisles whether your operators are working side by side on different lift trucks or they are around customers in facility.
  2.  Utilizing Forklift and Fleet Management Technology
    • T-Matics is Toyota’s Fleet Management system that can measure and manage accountability of your operators as well as the damages done to your machines. Keeping costs down and safety at the tip of the spear.
    • The customization options for forklifts are endless. To keep individuals off the machines that should not be on them technology can added to our forklifts to keep the lift from starting if it is not the operator that drives that specific piece of equipment.
  3. Knowing the Correct Forklift Capacities and Sticking to the PM Schedules
    • In demanding situations it is easy to disregard the forklift lifting capacity. Not only is it unsafe for everyone around the unit, it is unsafe for the operator because of instability.
    • Recognizing necessary repairs and sticking to a Planned Maintenance schedule will help increase safety and decrease accidents in the workplace.
  4. Choosing Safe Everyday Practices
    • Eliminating slip, trip, and fall hazards so that pedestrians and equipment can maneuver around the facility with ease.
    • Having associates and operators wear appropriate clothing such as, reflective vests or steel toe boots can immensely increase safety in a facility.
  5. Only Trained and Certified Operators Operating the Forklifts
    • By-pass OSHA and other fines by training operators for the specific forklift they will be operating. Maneuvering a sit-down counterbalance forklift is much different than a stand-up order picker or man-up lift. We offer Train-the-Trainer courses, safety training, and on-site operator training, as well as, many other programs. OSHA requires it and SIE offers it!

President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America, Brett Wood, predicts how important safety is and will be in the future of the material handling industry:

“[…] safety design, ergonomic design, productivity factors. If you combine those three together, together they work together in the forklift of the future. If you have a safe, comfortable operator you have a productive operator[…]” – Brett Wood President/CEO Toyota Material Handling North America

 

… According to Toyota Industrial Equipment no matter what type of lift truck you have, you need to have the following preventive measures taken:

  • Ask for Operator concerns/input
  • Clean Machine
  • Clean Grease Fillings and Lubricate
  • Check Upright Assembly
  • Check Parking Brake Operation
  • Check Service Brake Operation
  • Check/Fill Master Cylinder
  • Inspect Brake Pedal Linkage
  • Inspect Hydraulic Cylinders and Hoses
  • Check Tilt Cylinder Anchors
  • Inspect tires
  • Clean or replace hydraulic sump breather
  • Check and lubricate shafts and levers
  • Check steering for operation
  • Check lights, horns, backup alarm and gauges
  • Inspect data plate and decals
  • Inspect safety seat belts and hood latch
  • Visually inspect Load back rest and Overhead guard
  • Check battery; add water and clean
  • Check battery cables and receptacles
  • Check/fill transmission/differential oil levels
  • Check/fill hydraulic oil level.
  • Check Fork Wear/Chain Wear/Carriage wear

Note: Some preventative maintenance items that are performed for specific types of lift trucks are not listed.

Southeast Industrial Equipment has maintenance programs to fit the needs of your lift truck. SIE is dedicated to help maintain the safety and performance of your facilities forklifts. For more information please call us (866) 696-9125 or visit our website at www.sielift.com.

Parker, Brittney. “Forklift ruled likely cause of farm tragedy.” Macon County News 08 08 2013, n. pag. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

“Forklift Planned Maintenance.” Toyota-Lift of Minnesota. N.p.. Web. 15 Jan 2014. link to article.

Toyota’s New 8 Series 3-Wheel Electric Forklift is Now Available!

Southeast Industrial Equipment is now offering the New 8 Series 3-Wheel Electric Forklift by Toyota. This forklift has a number of valuable features to help increase productivity and performance on the job and in the warehouse.

Contact any of our Nine Branches for more information.

During our Mid Year Sales Meeting our sales staff had the privilege of being trained by Toyota on this new product. We put this forklift up against a few competitor’s and let the superior features speak for themselves.

  • 20% Longer Run Time over Previous Model with Just One Charge
  • Turn Speed Control with Load and Height Sensing
  • Quick Turn Deceleration Control
  • AMC (Active Mast Control) Reduced Lift Speed with Forward Tilt
  • Large Assist Grips including the added Rear Assist Grip With Horn
  • Full Suspension Seat
  • Improved Head Space
  • Small Steering Wheel
  • Foot Activated Parking Brake
  • Seat Switch Hour Meter
  • Auto Power Off Option
  • Wet Disc Brakes
Sales Staff 2015

SIE Sales Staff with the New Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift

Update your fleet with the New Toyota 3-Wheel Electric Forklift that most commonly applies, but is not limited to these industries:

  1. Food Preparations and Grocers
  2. General Warehousing and Storage
  3. Manufacturing Industries
  4. Medical and Hospital Facilities
  5. Motor Vehicle Facilities
  6. Plastics Products
  7. U.S. Federal Government
  8. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Wholesalers
  9. Short Term Rental
  10. Breweries

Visit Our Website for all of Southeast Industrial Equipment’s capabilities and let us be your Full Solutions Provider!

Check List to Check your Lift

Safety Checklist

Safety Checklist

A giant dent in your overhead guard is easy to spot at first sight, but what if there was a tiny leak from your propane valve? Would you be able to easily spot that? Chances are a busy operator could miss it. Planned maintenance isn’t the only thing that can be done to keep your equipment running in prime condition. In addition to planned maintenance, your operators should go through the daily operation checklist before each shift to ensure the piece of equipment is safe to operate.

Not only is it required by OHSHA, but a log will also help your operators be more aware and keep them accountable for how they treat the equipment, cutting down on misuse. If the lift needs a repair make sure you have the proper procedure in place.

  1. Tag the equipment inoperable (WARNING! DO NOT OPERATE!), make sure it is visible.
  2. Immediately notify the appropriate party.
  3. Keep the phone number of your repair service or person on the forklift.
  4. Log what needs repair, when the repair was made, and how much it cost to fix.

Tracking how often your forklift needs repair, as well as the cost, will keep you cognizant of your cost of ownership. If the machine is often out of service perhaps operators need further training operating the truck.

The greatest way a checklist will benefit your business and operators is safety. A truck should not be used when it is unsafe for operation. Forklifts are an investment in your company, and cost thousands of dollars; therefore a daily operator checklist is an easy way to prevent accidents and injury without spending money. Remember these machines literally weigh tons, with many moving parts, thus it is important to keep them in optimal condition.

The following is an example of a checklist OSHA suggests for your lift truck:

KEY OFF Procedures

  • The vehicle inspection
    • Overhead guard
    • Hydraulic cylinders
    • Mast assembly
    • Lift chains and rollers
    • Forks
    • Tires
    • LPG tank and locator pin
    • LPG tank hose
    • Gas gauge
  • Check the engine oil level
  • Examine the battery
  • Inspect the hydraulic fluid level
  • Check the engine coolant level

KEY ON Procedures

  • Test the standard equipment
    • Front, tail, and brake lights
    • Fuel gauge (if diesel)
    • Windshield wiper
    • Heater

ENGINE RUNNING Procedures

  • Check the gauges
    • Oil pressure indicator lamp
    • Ammeter indicator lamp
    • Ammeter
    • Hour Meter
    • Water Temperature Gauge
  • Test the standard equipment
    • Steering
    • Brakes
    • Horn
    • Safety seat (if equipped)
  • Check the operation of load-handling attachments
  • Check the transmission fluid level

Visit OSHA’s website for more information.

https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/pit/pit_checklist.html

11,000 Ways SIE Supports the Community

Charity donations

Southeast Industrial Equipment is a family owned organization that truly cares about its associates and the community. “When Southeast does well, our associates do well, and in turn, our community does well”, said by Cory Thorne, President of SIE. 2014 was a tremendous year for SIE; therefore, Cory and the Thorne family decided to give back to the community in a BIG way! Each associate was given $250.00 to donate to the charity of their choice. Associates were given the opportunity to donate within their local community or to any program they felt a sense of duty to.

The Wounded Warrior Project, American Cancer Society, animal rescues, church programs, and camps for special needs children were just a few examples of charities chosen by our associates. One of our branches, Raleigh, collaborated and was able to donate $2,250.00 to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! Organizations who received donations were over the moon and personally thanked not only Southeast Industrial Equipment, but also the associate who chose them for the donation. All of the associates who donated sent in a photograph of themselves handing off their gift to the program, these can be seen on our SIE Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SoutheastIndustrialEquipment.

During fourth quarter of 2014, SIE donated over $11,000 alone to charities and programs in an effort to increase awareness for those in need. Not only does the Thorne family care about its associates, they care about the communities around the Southeast and how they can positively impact their growth.  Southeast Industrial Equipment encourages you to go out and donate, whether it’s an hour of your time, monetary, or goods to a cause that you truly believe in. In 2015, SIE plans to continue donating to charities all around the Southeast and give to those programs that are eager for our support.

What to Expect when Renting

Not sold on the idea of investing all your capital into one piece of equipment? Or maybe you have one specific task you need a forklift for. Don’t worry, you have options! As well as having material handling equipment for sale, we also have a rental fleet to meet your short or long term needs! We do daily, weekly and monthly rentals depending on your time frame.

Many companies prefer to rent long term instead of purchasing for budgeting reasons. Having a monthly rental payment is perfect for a new company with no credit, or a company that doesn’t want to pay a large upfront cost. Short term rentals are great to be able to get your projects completed without committing to purchasing equipment. To make sure we get you the equipment you need, we will need to make sure we have all the information. For example if you are renting a forklift we need to know:

  • Will the lift truck be used indoors or outdoors?
  • Do you need LPG (liquid propane gas), electric, or diesel?
  • What is the mast height requirement?
  • What capacity is needed?
  • What attachments will you need? (i.e. carton clamp, bale clamp, multiple load handler)
  • If you need forks, what size? We offer 36” forks to 96”.

To keep our units in prime condition they are all inspected, painted, labeled with OSHA compliant safety decals, and receive regular maintenance before being rental ready. The average age of our rental fleet is 3 years, with supplemental equipment being added each year to fit the needs of our customers.

Our rental fleet features Toyota forklifts, the number one lift truck in America since2002. With fuel efficiency and the System of Active Stability, you know your rental will be safe and reliable. If for any reason you do need maintenance, it is included for you.

We don’t only offer forklift rentals we have a wide variety of industrial equipment to fit your needs;  Genie scissor lifts, Capacity yard spotters, Advance Sweeper Scrubbers to name a few.

Call today to set up your rental, (866) 696-9125!

Toyota – Leader in being Green

greentoyota

“Toyota is committed to environmental responsibility, and it’s a role we take very seriously. Beyond pushing the bounds of product innovation, one of Toyota’s goals is to support environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial initiatives contributing to a cleaner environment.”

Brett Wood, Chairman of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.
https://www.toyotaforklift.com/pages/about-us/environmental-focus/reducing-our-carbon-footprint.aspx#sthash.FaOrtsFI.dpuf

Toyota Material Handling has always been a leader when it comes to protecting the environment. In 2009 Toyota introduced the first ever Hybrid forklift in Japan. It combines the best of electric and internal combustion technology, taking advantage of the strengths of each power source. The forklift combines an internal combustion engine, electric generator and battery in a design that allows the engine to operate with optimum fuel/emissions efficiency. The forklift shifts automatically between battery and engine modes, simultaneously recharging the battery during operation. The result is a forklift that cuts emissions in half and is twice as fuel efficient. They are always looking for innovative new ways to benefit the environment.

The 8-series LPG and Diesel lifts highlight Toyota’s leadership in being green. The 8-series exceeds federal EPA emission standards, and also complies with California’s emission standards. Emission standards in California are stricter than the federal EPA requirements. They’re more stringent on hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which become smog, from vehicles. California also has requirements that older construction vehicles be retrofitted so that they operate cleaner, emitting fewer gases into the atmosphere.  The result for the LPG truck is 70% less smog forming emissions than Federal EPA standards. In addition, the 8-Series diesel models meet the more stringent EPA Interim Tier 4 emission standards, which means 26% less particulate matter than the Tier 3 standard. These machines increased the amount of recyclable parts used, as well as reduced the use of harmful substances during manufacturing.  Toyota didn’t stop there; for every new 8-series forklift that was sold in 2013 they partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to have a tree planted in a national forest damaged by fire or other natural causes. Over 30,000 trees were planted throughout the US and Canada.

Toyota’s energy-saving measures have enabled the company’s manufacturing plant to reduce CO2 emissions by 120,000 tons over the past five years. They are also a zero-landfill facility. Toyota encourages everyone to adopt green initiatives into daily applications. Even simple things such as carpooling or an energy-efficient lighting system can reduce our carbon footprint, and benefit the environment.

https://www.toyotaforklift.com/pages/about-us/environmental-focus/what-you-can-do.aspx

https://www.toyotaforklift.com/pages/about-us/environmental-focus/redefining-environmental-responsibility.aspx

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/carb2.htm

 

https://www.toyotaforklift.com/pages/about-us/toyota-philosophy/environmental-focus/future-vehicles.aspx

Not Just a One Trick Pony

The_Laughing_Horse_by_u04elw2

It is becoming more and more common; you are able to find anything and everything you need in one place. Super Wal-Mart is a great example; they have everything from milk and eggs to 60” televisions. A one stop shop for you to get everything you need and want.
Here at Southeast Industrial Equipment our goal is to be a full service provider for your material handling needs. We are here to bring solutions to your warehouse dilemmas. We do this by touring your facility and bringing you a full range of options to optimize your operations.
SIE is a Toyota Lift Truck dealer, but we aren’t a one trick pony. We offer a wide range of equipment to add to your fleet. We have aerial lifts, construction equipment, sweeper scrubbers, utility vehicles, and yard spotters. Our relationship with your company doesn’t end there; if a piece of equipment needs to be serviced we can handle that as well. What if your warehouse needs racking or a dock leveler? No worries, we can help.
We do have new equipment, but we also offer a wide range of used equipment. We have weekly and monthly rentals to accommodate those who don’t need machines year round. When service, preventative maintenance, or a safety check is needed; we will take care of those things too. If you have a new associate, schedule a training session to have them become a certified forklift operator.
“Our primary mission is to be the premier supplier of quality products and superior service in our industry, achieving mutually rewarding relationships with our customers and vendors while providing our associates with a safe, secure and rewarding work environment.”
From new forklifts to warehouse supplies, let SIE be your full service provider. Call us (866) 696-9125 or visit us online at www.sielift.com.