Safe-Operating Propane Forklifts

Improve air quality and the well-being of your employees.

When you manage a warehouse, big box store, manufacturing facility, job site or distribution center, your workforce’s safety is a top priority. No one wants to have a workplace accident. Forklifts — while essential to running this type of commercial venture — can present safety concerns.

At Sierra Propane, we supply propane cylinders for forklift fleets in Springerville and other cities in Arizona and New Mexico. We can offer some actionable tips to ensure your workplace’s security, productivity and profitability.

How safe are propane forklifts?

Propane forklifts combine safety, efficiency and affordability, especially in comparison to diesel, gasoline and electric vehicles. Here are some reasons why propane forklifts are safe-operating:

• A well-maintained propane forklift fleet will meet or exceed nationwide indoor air quality standards. You can safely run them indoors, unlike gas or diesel forklifts.
• You can run a propane forklift outdoors in the rain, which you can’t safely do with an electric forklift.
• Spills of gasoline or diesel can create environmental and health hazards. Propane tends to dissipate into the air (although a propane leak should be addressed by vacating the area and contacting both emergency services and Sierra Propane).

How can you operate your propane forklift safely?

Here are some propane forklift safety tips courtesy of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

1. Keep the pressure relief valve of the propane cylinder pointed at the 12 o’clock position and at a 45° angle when the tank is in a horizontal position.
2. Work with your propane supplier to find the safest and most convenient placement for your propane cylinder cages or refilling equipment.
3. Cylinders should be in locked cages away from direct sunlight to prevent overheating.
4. Close the service valve of forklift propane tanks when the vehicle isn’t in use.
5. Approach and navigate inclines safely. Descend ramps in reverse with the payload pointed up the grade. When mounting a ramp without a payload, point the vehicle’s fork down the grade.
6. Propane cylinders should be inspected for safety 12 years after the manufacture date and every five years after that.
7. Forklift operators should always buckle their seatbelts before starting the forklift.

These are just a few tips that can help you ensure your employees’ safety when using propane forklifts. PERC offers a range of fantastic propane safety resources, and the Sierra Propane team is always available to answer questions.

Sierra Propane knows forklift propane.

With over 40 years of experience serving businesses in Arizona and New Mexico, we have developed fantastic propane forklift options for our clients.

You can opt to enroll in a cylinder exchange program where Sierra Propane delivers filled, safety-tested 33-pound propane cylinders to your site and takes your empty containers on a custom schedule. We set up the exchange cages for you.

Alternatively, you can choose to do a cylinder refill option. We will set up a propane refill tank at your site so your employees can refill their forklift cylinders. Then, we arrange a propane delivery schedule based on your usage needs.

In both options, Sierra Propane will provide safety training to your team and is available to support you whenever you need it.

Get in touch with the Sierra Propane team today to discuss your forklift propane options.