Free forklift pre-use inspection checklist

Complete the checklist before the truck is first operated on each shift. If an item is a defect that affects safe operation, tag the truck out of service and report it. Keep completed sheets: the employer must keep defect records for at least 2 years.

Walk-around (engine off, forks lowered)

• No fluid leaks under the truck (oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel, coolant, battery electrolyte)
• Tires or wheels: no cuts, gouges, missing chunks, loose lug nuts or flat spots
• Forks: no cracks, bends or heel wear; locking pins in place and forks level and evenly spaced
• Mast, chains and rollers: no broken or kinked chains, no loose hardware, no leaks from lift or tilt cylinders
• Overhead guard and load backrest: not bent, cracked or missing
• Data plate and capacity plate present and readable; attachments match the plate
• Propane: cylinder secure, valve and hose undamaged, no leaks. Electric: battery secure, cables and connectors undamaged, vents clear
• Counterweight and body: no damage or loose parts

Operator compartment

• Seat and seat belt or restraint: seat secure, belt works and latches
• Steering wheel and column: no excess play
• Instruments and gauges work; fuel or battery charge adequate
• Horn works
• Headlights, working lights, warning lights and backup alarm work
• Mirrors and visibility aids clean and aimed correctly
• Fire extinguisher present, charged and inspected (where fitted)
• Operator's manual present on the truck

Operational test (in a clear area)

• Service brake stops the truck smoothly; parking brake holds
• Accelerator and direction control work smoothly
• Steering is smooth in both directions
• Mast raises, lowers and tilts smoothly with no jerking or unusual noise
• Hydraulic controls return to neutral when released; any attachments operate correctly
• No unusual noises, smells, vibrations or warning lights

The PDF adds OK / Defect / N/A columns, fields for the date, shift, unit number and operator, a defects section and operator and supervisor sign-off.

Common questions

Do forklift operators have to inspect the truck every shift in B.C.?

Yes. Under OHS Regulation section 16.3(1), before mobile equipment is first operated on a shift, the operator must inspect it, and unsafe or potentially unsafe defects must be reported to the supervisor or employer. The employer must keep a defect record for at least 2 years (s. 16.3(3)).

Which standard applies to forklifts in B.C.?

Section 16.43 of the OHS Regulation requires lift trucks to meet CAN/CSA B335-15 (the edition currently cited in the Regulation) or the alternatives listed there, and says operator training must meet Clause 6 of that standard. CSA has since published a newer edition, CSA B335:25. Check the current Regulation and standard.

Is this checklist the official CSA B335 checklist?

No. It reflects common pre-use inspection practice. Your operator's manual and employer procedures take priority, and the checklist does not reproduce the CSA standard.

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