It's easy to take pallet trucks for granted. That can detract from proper operation and maintenance. We asked Jim Shephard, president of Shephard's Industrial Training Systems, to provide his top 10 considerations for getting the most out of your pallet truck investment.

1. Inspect the load wheels. If you have dual wheels and one sticks it could shake the load and cause product damage if the load isn't securely banded or wrapped.
2. Avoid moving uneven, overweight loads. Move these too much and you can damage a pallet truck so all loads are uneven and subject to damage.
3. Avoid steep inclines and declines. Operators risk injury, especially as they walk ahead of the load and have to stop quickly. Heel-contact is a common problem for users of powered and non-powered pallet trucks if they don't walk to the side of the vehicle as it trails behind them.
4. Don't overlook battery maintenance, especially water and electrolyte levels. Batteries should be properly washed down and cells checked regularly.
5. Use appropriate maintenance equipment, such as a face shield and gloves when opening battery caps. Gloves should be a chemical-resistant rubber, not leather. Leather will soak up sweat. If an operator opens a battery with moist gloves and comes into contact with dormant battery acid, that moisture will activate the acid, which could cause injury. Every charging station should have charging instructions posted at the charger, an eye wash station and a fire extinguisher.
6. Respect the mechanical braking system of the walkie/rider. Many operators step off before the vehicle stops. That's a good way to get a flat foot. If the floor is wet, that person could slip and fall. Also, shorter people walking with a load tend to get their feet closer to the vehicle when putting the handle in the braking position, risking run-over.
7. Make sure the horn, the automatic reverse and the up/down controls are working. Although there's no OSHA requirement to document inspections, many companies adopt the practice for fear of being sued when there is an accident caused by poorly maintained safety functions.
8. Make sure operators have firm footing on rider trucks. Non-skid tread on the platform is as important as the proper stance to keep an operator on the vehicle.
9. Study load stability. Operators don't always appreciate load behavior and load stability. There's no cage or fall protection for these operators. Make sure operators know the capacity of their pallet truck and the weight and stability of their loads.
10. Pay attention to load overhangs on racks or stacked product when navigating down an aisle, especially if there's two-way traffic.

Jim Shephard can be reached at (901) 382-5507 or via e-mail at: jimshephard@shephardsystems.com. Also, visit www.shephardsystems.com.