Store Forklift Attachments Safely

A magnetic sweeper attachment on a forklift.
(Courtesy: Bunting Magnetics Europe at flickr.com

One of the most useful things about owning a forklift is that you don’t just have one vehicle to perform essential workplace tasks. You actually have several. Forklift attachments can instantly transform a standard forklift into a cherry picker, a powered floor sweeper, a trash or debris collector, a crane, a scale, and more.

Other forklift attachments allow you to lift oddly shaped or difficult to move loads such as carpet rolls, barrels or drums, or cargo nets. And forklift fork extensions let you lift larger pallets, heavy equipment, and other oversized materials.

Yet your forklift attachments are only useful to you if they are available when you need them. That’s why storing them in a safe place where they are always ready to be used is essential.

Setting Aside Storage Space

How often has this happened to you?: You are performing a repair or maintenance task and are in need of a specific tool but it’s can’t immediately be found. Costly minutes or even hours are spent searching high and low for the proper tool. Meanwhile, the job isn’t being done and productivity comes to a screeching halt.

Experienced technicians understand the value of organizing their tools. Storing tools, parts, and supplies in labeled, organized tool boxes or rolling racks ensure that you always have instant access to what you need when you need it.

The same holds true with forklift attachments. If you throw your forklift snowplow attachment in the back of the garage, for example, don’t be surprised when you can’t find it the next time it snows. Or if it is damaged because it has spent the summer buried beneath a pile of heavy materials. So the next time you go to put it on your forklift to clear your parking lot or dock, you are out of luck.

Proper Storage Techniques

Ideally, designated spaces should be set aside for the storage of each forklift attachment you own. They should be stored together in a dry, safe, out of the way corner away from other materials or equipment that can damage or hide them from view. That way, they can always be accessed when needed and the likelihood that they are in working order is higher.

Space-saving measures can be taken to minimize the amount of room needed to store forklift attachments you only use once in a while. Those that are used more frequently should be positioned near the front of the storage area for easier access. Forklift extenders can be stored vertically, for example.

Like any other tools, forklift attachments are only as good as the care you give them. Storing your forklift attachments in a safe place ensures they will available to help you work better and smarter when you need them.