Forklifts and Flooring – Double Damage for a Facility

It’s the age-old question – which came first? The damage to the floor from the forklift? Or the damage to the forklift from the floor? Both forklifts and flooring can be major investments for a facility, but they often work against each other.

Forklift Safety Issues Caused by Uneven Floors

Loss of Stability and Control
Uneven concrete floors are safety hazards for pedestrian traffic but can also cause significant damage and safety issues for forklift traffic. Forklifts do not have a suspension like a car, so it is not as equipped to drive over uneven surfaces. Doing so can cause a forklift to tilt, become unbalanced, and even lead to tipping over.

Operator Strain
Driving over cracks, bumps, or other irregularities will have an impact on the driver’s comfort, causing stress and strain on the body.

Product Spills and Falls
Driving over uneven or damaged floors can cause pallets falling or spilling items. For some, even the slightest increase in vibration can compromise the integrity of the material.

Vehicle Damage
In addition to the safety concerns above, uneven or rough patches of flooring can cause significant damage to the forklift itself. Forklifts have a low center of gravity so the clearance below the vehicle is minimal. Damaged flooring can also impact a forklift’s tires, creating a need to replace tires more frequently.

Flooring Safety Issues Caused by Forklifts

While damaged flooring can cause major issues for forklifts, what about the damage forklifts can do to a floor?

Drags, Cracks, and Chips
Concrete floors are strong but forklifts can be stronger. Dragging forks, dropping products, or hitting the floor with forks can lead to gouges, cracks, chips, and more. These may seem small at first but will often worsen over time. Any vertical change of more than ¼” is seen as a hazard for foot traffic.

Scratches
Forklifts have cushion tires, which can collect debris like gravel and salt. This debris is often transferred from the outside to the inside and cause scratches in the floor. Over time, these scratches turn into deeper grooves and result in uneven or rough spots.

Chemical Spills or Leaks
Spills from the products being transported or the vehicle itself can be absorbed into traditional concrete floors. This can lead to several issues, depending on the chemicals or materials spilled.