Forklifts lack the suspension to soften bumps, quick stops and starts, and other movements that create sudden jolts. Each of these vibrations and impacts is more noticeable and easily felt by the operators when they are sitting on a bad, broken, or worn out seat. The difference between a bad forklift and a good one is the quality of the forklift seat.
Since forklift truck operators spend most of their day sitting in the seat, eventually the seat will wear out. Common signs you should invest in a new seat are torn vinyl or cloth coverings, lumpy padding, worn out springs, holes, and missing padding. Forklift operators who have to sit on these types of uncomfortable seats will not be happy.
Unhappy operators result in less productive employees. Not to mention that the discomfort caused by the seat could lead to reduced focus, an increase in on-the-job accidents, and work-related injuries, such as lower back pain, pinched nerves, and sore posteriors. If your forklift operators are complaining of sore backs, necks, shoulders, or posteriors, you definitely will want to replace the seat with a new one.
There are numerous types of replacement seats for forklifts, each with their own features and options. Ideally, you will want to choose a seat that best suits your needs and which has the features you desire, such as added shock absorption, seat belts, adjustability, and so on. You may also want to get input from your forklift operators about what features and options they would like in their new seats.
If you have several different forklifts in various sizes and from different manufacturers, an easy replacement solution is to look at universal seats. Universal seats are designed to be compatible with a wide range of forklift models and sizes. In addition, if you decide to get rid of an older forklift, the new universal seat can easily be moved to another forklift.
For more information or assistance in selecting the more appropriate seats for your forklifts, call 1-844-SAS-SEAT to speak now to the experts at Suburban Seating & Safety.
