Many indoor industrial and warehouse sites may encounter weather-like adverse conditions even without exposure to outdoor elements, including unexpected high humidity from adjacent production process areas, condensed water build-up on floors after sudden indoor temperature drops, accumulated fog from industrial spray operations, or uneven damp patches brought in by outdoor delivery fleets. These conditions raise hidden risks for electric forklift operation, as the traction of wheels, sensitivity of electronic components and stability of lifting operations can be affected in unnoticeable ways that may cause safety incidents without proper preventive measures.

Before starting any operation under such conditions, operators must complete a full pre-operation check covering three core sections. First, test the braking system on a pre-marked empty section of the floor to confirm no skidding occurs at low travelling speed. Second, inspect the exterior sealing of all electric component compartments, to rule out hidden gaps that may let damp air enter and cause short circuit risks. Third, check the wear status of traction wheels, make sure the remaining tread depth meets the required safety standard to maintain sufficient grip on damp or slippery surfaces. Any identified abnormal issues must be reported to the site safety management team immediately, and the forklift cannot be put into use until the problem is fully resolved.

When travelling in adverse indoor conditions, operators need to lower the normal travelling speed by 30% to 40%, maintain a minimum 3-meter safety distance with nearby personnel, racking units and other operating equipment, and avoid sudden steering or emergency braking actions that may cause side skidding. For lifting operations, reduce the maximum rated lifting load by 10% to 15% to offset potential stability risks caused by slippery contact surfaces, and avoid lifting goods to the maximum allowed height as much as possible. When passing through areas with obvious water accumulation, do not let the bottom chassis of the forklift soak in water for more than 2 seconds, and bypass deep water patches that exceed the height of the chassis protective plate. Operators should also keep full attention to the surrounding environment, and pause operation temporarily if visibility drops below 5 meters caused by dense indoor fog.

After finishing daily operation under such adverse conditions, operators need to wipe off all condensed damp traces on the forklift body, wheel surfaces and operation handles before parking the vehicle in the designated well-ventilated area. Site management teams should arrange regular targeted training for all forklift operators, to help them get familiar with the hidden risks of indoor adverse weather-like conditions and master corresponding response measures. Regular safety patrols should also be arranged to mark damp or slippery floor areas with obvious warning signs, and arrange timely drying or anti-slip treatment to eliminate hidden risks at source.