How to check your lights during your daily forklift truck checks

As required by law, forklifts must be equipped with suitable lighting that guarantees the safety of employees in the workplace. Failure to make suitable lighting provisions can result in your forklift being deemed not suitable for work, as they are a legal requirement. Forklift truck lights should be checked routinely to ensure they are working correctly, and these checks can be incorporated into your daily walkaround checks.

In this guide, we will explore which lights are required on a forklift, and what aspects of your lights should be checked during your daily forklift truck checks. We will also discuss the legal requirements concerning all forklift truck lights, and what to do if you discover that your vehicle lights are defective.

What lights are required on a forklift truck?

All forklift trucks driven in workspaces must have sufficient lighting to keep all employees safe. This means having front and rear LED and halogen lighting to provide visibility in darker areas. The majority of forklift trucks are only used on work premises, such as warehouses and construction sites. However, some forklift trucks can be used on the road, which means they must adhere to general traffic regulations and Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations (RVLR). Forklifts that will be driven over 1000 yards on a public road must also comply with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

All forklift trucks used on public roads must have front and rear lights fitted. There must also be a number plate light, as well as indicators, hazard warning lights, rear lights, brake lights, and at least two reflectors. If the forklifts are only being used for on-site work and will not venture onto public roads, they do not need to follow strict traffic regulations. However, they must still have sufficient lighting to keep the driver and other employees safe.

You can easily check your lights before you drive your forklift truck, but you must make a note of any safety defects you may find. Want a more simplified way to carry out daily walkaround checks for your forklift truck? You can visit our website here to request a demo of our app and digital system.

What should I check when inspecting my forklift truck lights during my daily walkaround check?

When carrying out your daily walkaround checks, it is important to check your lights before operating your forklift truck. You can check your front and rear lights by simply turning them on and ensuring they are working optimally, but you may need another colleague to help you check that your brake lights and indicators are functional.

There are various safety lights that can be installed in a forklift truck which you should also check if they are fitted. Safety lights include the forklift arc light, red danger light, laser light and blue spotlight. If your forklift truck is fitted with any of these lights, you should check that they are working correctly during your daily forklift checks.

Are functional forklift truck lights a legal requirement?

Forklifts that operate on public roads are legally required to follow traffic regulations and be fitted with front and rear lights, as well as indicators and brake lights. Forklift trucks that are primarily used in warehouses and construction sites must still be fitted with lights that ensure employee safety in order to comply with workplace regulations.

If your forklift lights are faulty and your or your colleagues’ safety is hampered, you could be held accountable, so it is important to ensure you inspect your lights thoroughly during your daily walkaround checks. If you operate your forklift on public roads and your lights are defective, you may not be compliant with Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations and may therefore be pulled over by the police.

The best way to ensure that your lights are working optimally is to carry out daily vehicle checks and inspect each light on your forklift truck thoroughly. You can carry these specific checks out using digital vehicle checklists on the AssetGo app, allowing your daily walkaround checks to be carried out more efficiently. To find out more about our daily vehicle checks app, get in touch with us today.

What should I do if my forklift truck lights are defective?

If you discover a fault with any of your forklift truck’s lights that would render the vehicle unsafe to drive, you should report the defect to the relevant person within your company. You should refrain from driving the forklift truck on both public roads and within your workplace until the defect is resolved. If you are unsure as to whether a lighting defect makes your forklift unsafe to drive, you should still avoid driving the forklift until you get a second opinion.

If you are unsure what classes as a defect, consider the various regulations that apply to your forklift truck.

How AssetGo can help

Each forklift truck driver should aim to carry out daily walkaround checks before they operate their vehicle, ensuring that it is fully compliant and free of any defects that could affect its safety and operation. Paper checklists can easily become lost and damaged; by using the digital checklists on the AssetGo app, drivers can quickly and effectively carry out their daily checks and report any defects. All data is saved securely on a CMS system and can be easily accessed at a later date.

To find out more about our daily forklift truck checklists and how they can benefit your business, you can visit us here for a free demo, or contact us today.

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