Winter often brings unexpected snow, melted ice puddles and thin frost on outdoor and semi-outdoor warehouse yards, forming typical slippery road conditions that greatly increase the operation risk of electric forklifts. Unlike operating on dry, clean concrete surfaces, driving on slippery yards may lead to unexpected skidding, cargo shifting, collision accidents and even personal injury if operators do not follow targeted safety rules. The following systematic operation guidelines are formulated based on general industry safety standards to help teams complete winter material handling tasks stably.

Pre-operation Full Check before Daily Winter Work

Before starting each shift, operators need to complete a targeted inspection adapted to winter conditions. First, check the tire wear condition and tire pressure, make sure the tire tread can provide enough friction on slippery surfaces, replace over-worn tires in time. Second, test the braking system repeatedly for 2 to 3 times after the vehicle is preheated, confirm that the braking response is stable and no stuttering occurs caused by low temperature. Third, wipe the moisture and frost on the battery interface and control panel, clear the snow and ice residue attached to the vehicle body and pallet forks, to avoid unexpected falling ice blocks hurting passing personnel during driving.

Standard Driving Protocols on Slippery Surfaces

When driving in slippery yard areas, operators need to reduce the traveling speed to 1/3 to 1/2 of the normal speed on dry roads, strictly avoid sudden acceleration, sudden braking and sharp direction swerve. Keep a safe distance of no less than 3 meters from surrounding facilities, other working vehicles and passing personnel. When carrying loads, adjust the mast to tilt back properly and lower the cargo position to reduce the overall center of gravity of the vehicle, do not lift the cargo to a high position when traveling for a long distance, which may increase the risk of side skidding. For ramp sections covered with thin ice, keep the driving direction stable along the ramp, do not change direction midway to avoid sideslip.

Emergency Handling and Site Management Tips

If the vehicle shows signs of skidding during driving, do not step on the brake fully or turn the steering wheel sharply, you can slightly adjust the direction along the skidding trend, release the acceleration pedal slowly until the vehicle regains grip. For sections with accumulated thick ice on the yard, arrange special personnel to spread anti-slip sand or lay anti-slip mats before operation, and set up obvious warning signs to remind all operators of potential risks. The management team should also arrange regular winter safety training for forklift operators, and arrange daily patrol of the yard to clear ice and snow residues in time to build a safe winter working environment.