2025 OSHA Forklift Inspection Guide

Quick Facts about OSHA Forklift Inspection Requirements 2025

• Yes, daily forklift inspections are still required in 2025.
• You need to log them. Paper’s fine. Apps are better and easier.
• If the forklift fails inspection? It should go off the floor until fixed.
• Fines are up to $16,550 per violation.
• Most inspections take under 10 minutes.

Let’s be clear: this rule hasn’t changed in years

But often people skip it.

We get questions all the time like:

• “Do I really have to inspect the forklift if we used it yesterday?”
• “Can I do one check for the whole week?”
• “Who’s actually looking at these logs?”

Answer to all of the above? You still need to do the daily inspection, but the good news is, it’s quick and simple when you make it routine.

What Are the 2025 OSHA Forklift Inspection Requirements?

This is straight from the source, simplified.

You need to check each forklift:

• Before it’s used
• Every shift
• Even if it ran fine yesterday

Here’s what operators should check and what OSHA looks for during an audit:

• Brakes: test them. Does the forklift stop like it should?
• Steering: no grinding, no tight spots
• Horn: loud enough to be heard across the floor
• Lights: working? Especially reverse and blue spot lights
• Tires: bald, damaged, or underinflated? Flag it.
• Forks:  any cracks, bends, or welds?
• Hydraulics: no leaks, jerky lifts, or low pressure
• Seatbelt: must work. 

And if something’s wrong? Take it out of service until it’s fixed. It’s safer (and cheaper) to wait for repairs.

What Happens if You Skip a Forklift Inspection?

If OSHA audits you and sees no logs? That’s a fine.

If an accident happens and your inspection was skipped? Bigger problem-possible shutdown, liability, and repeat violations.

Here’s how most good operators handle it (not perfectly, but consistently)

• They post a checklist near the forklift bays
• Everyone signs off – name, date, time
• Some go digital: QR codes linked to a Google Form or app
• Supervisors spot-check weekly. It matters.

If you don’t have a system like this yet, the good news is it’s easy to set up and pays off quickly.

Logging isn’t optional

This is one of the biggest gaps we see.

Sometimes operators do the check but forget to write it down. Or they fill in several at once later. Or one person signs off for multiple trucks before the shift starts.

OSHA is quick to notice when logs look inconsistent, so it’s best to keep things accurate and up to date.

You don’t need a fancy logbook.
You do need:

• The operator’s name
• The date
• That it passed (or what was flagged)

Bonus points if you keep records longer than 30 days. (We recommend 6-12 months.)

And yes, the fines are real

In 2025, OSHA’s max fine for serious violations is $16,550 per instance.

If an unsafe forklift is knowingly left in service? That’s a willful violation, and the fines increase fast.

The good news is that consistent inspections are one of the easiest ways to avoid those headaches.

How to Go Beyond OSHA’s Minimum Forklift Safety Standards

Let’s say you’ve got the basics down: now what?

Here’s what high-performing warehouses and logistics teams do:

• Daily inspections
• Weekly audits by a lead or supervisor
• Monthly preventive maintenance – catch things before they fail (Why Regular Preventative Maintenance Is Important)
• Digital record-keeping – easier to store, search, and show if needed
• Annual refresher training so new hires and long-timers stay sharp (operator training)

This is the kind of stuff that keeps fleets running safely – and keeps OSHA out of your building. For more on routines and safety culture, see A Guide to Forklift Maintenance and Safety Best Practices and Top 5 Forklift Safety Tips for 2025. To understand the business impact of delays, here’s our Forklift Downtime Costs: Guide.

What Thompson Lift Truck can do

Honestly? Most people just want a process that works.

We don’t overcomplicate it. We can help you:

• Create or customize your inspection checklist
• Train your operators on what matters
• Spot compliance gaps before OSHA does
• Schedule preventive service so you’re not just reacting – visit Forklift Service & Maintenance.

Need printable checklists? Want to switch to digital logs? Not sure where to start? Call us. We’ll walk you through it.

Final thought

Forklift inspections aren’t exciting. But neither is an OSHA fine.

Spend 10 minutes at the start of the shift, every shift. Log it. Fix what needs fixing. Done.