Do Concrete Floors Affect Your Forklift Operations in Greensboro, NC?

Can the concrete floors of your work environment negatively affect your forklift operations in Greensboro? Yes! Here's what to know about flooring problems.

Breaks, cracks, and uneven patches on your warehouse floor can cause damage to your forklift tires. With a 6,000-pound forklift applying over 10,000 pounds of pressure to the tires, the condition of the warehouse floor is vital.

So, how does your concrete flooring affect forklift operations? Let's take a closer look at common issues of concrete flooring in Greensboro, and the damage they can cause to your forklift.

Forklift Ergonomics and Concrete Floors for Forklift Operations

Forklifts do not have the suspension system that a car does. That means that if you run over a bump, you will feel it. Even though the best quality forklifts have designs that offer as much comfort to the forklift operator as possible, uneven or damaged concrete floors will put stress on a person's body.

Because of the nature of forklifts, it is not always possible to navigate around floor issues. This can cause the operator to have to drive over the damage over and over.

Types of Concrete Floor Issues

There are a variety of concrete floor issues that could damage a forklift, and it is important to be able to recognize these issues as soon as possible. Here are some of the most common issues an operator in Greensboro might encounter.

Pitted or Cracked Floors

Concrete floors are porous. Unless they have had sealant used on it, moisture can get into the concrete. This means any damage the floor already has will become worse much more quickly.

You can see pits and cracks because of these moisture issues, making it more difficult for the forklift operator to maneuver. Warehouse flooring that shows signs of pitting and cracking need an expert to inspect them, repair what needs to be repaired, and then find a way of avoiding the issue in the future.

Sinking and Sloping Floors

If your machinery weighs more than the floor can manage, you could see the floor beginning to sink. Keep an eye out for dips or voids.

If your floor slopes, it is also an issue that can affect your forklift. A forklift requires friction to function at its best and if the floor slopes, it makes the machine have to work much harder.

Dips and sinking can happen in areas where there are temperature fluctuations, making the floor slabs move.

Scratches and Surface Damage

Debris dragged in from the outside can cause damage to concrete warehouse flooring. If forklifts are used both indoors and outdoors, they can collect dirt, salt, and other debris on their tires, scratching the floor. Scratches may seem harmless at first, but they can start making grooves on the floor that can get progressively worse.

Impact on the Forklift

Uneven and damaged concrete flooring can have a big impact on the forklift itself. One of the concerns is the tires. Most forklifts that operate indoors in Greensboro have cushion tires, which are not created to withstand uneven flooring.

If the floor has chunks missing, or rough patches where missing pieces were repaired, then you are shortening the lifespan of each tire.

Forklifts also have a low center of gravity, so there can be damage to the chassis and mast and other minimal clearance areas. If the floor gets damaged, you may lose the clearance you had, which can increase impact on the forklift. Sudden impacts on the forklift can damage internal forklift components as time passes, which can make the forklift unstable.

If the forklift becomes unstable, it is a danger both to the operator and to the products you are moving. A damaged forklift can vibrate and that jostles product, knocking them against one another or even causing them to fall.

Floors that are uneven or that slope reduce friction, which can cause issues for the forklift's brakes as well.

Solutions

It is essential to perform regular inspections of your warehouse flooring. Watch for cracks, pitting, and dips. You'll want to also check the joints between slabs, because they can take the pull-away pressure from the forklift's weight and can be the first indication of damage.

It is also vital that someone sweep the floor each day before operations begin to remove debris. You'll want to do this before you scrub the floors, since debris can get caught in the scrubbers and can cause more abrasions.

If you have moisture issues, ensure that there is a good amount of airflow, so there is less condensation. You also want to have a clear idea of what the weight limits on the floor are and avoid going past them.

For the forklift, you want to perform regular maintenance checks. The forklift itself can warn you if there are issues with the flooring, especially the tires. If you see that they are wearing down more quickly than they should be, this is a warning sign.

If you do see signs of damage to the forklift, it is essential you repair or replace the damaged components as soon as possible to avoid safety issues.

Keep Your Greensboro Forklift in Great Condition

By ensuring your warehouse flooring is in good condition, you can make certain you do not have to worry about your forklift. If you notice that the machine is not working as it needs to, and that forklift operations are not as efficient as they should be, it is time to inspect it for damaged parts.

At Carolina Industrial Trucks, we offer the forklift parts in Greensboro that you'll need to keep your warehouse smoothly. Contact us to learn more!