Which of the following represents a correct pre-operation inspection item?

• A. Tires for wear
• B. Forks for cracks and bends
• C. Mast, chains and hydraulic lines for damage
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

A pre-operation inspection is a safety check done before each forklift use to make sure critical parts are in good condition and won’t fail during operation. Each item mentioned—tires for wear, forks for cracks and bends, and the mast, chains and hydraulic lines for damage—covers a vital part of the lifting and stability system. Worn tires can compromise traction or lead to tire failure; cracked or bent forks can deform under load and cause the load to slip or the forks to fail; damage to the mast, chains, or hydraulic lines can result in loss of control or sudden load dropping. Because all of these areas affect safe operation, you inspect all of them. This is why the best answer is that all of the above should be checked during a pre-operation inspection.