You are performing a pre-operational inspection of a telehandler's forks. You notice significant wear on the top surface of the fork blades but no visible cracks. The manufacturer's manual states that forks showing more than 10% wear (reduction in original thickness) must be replaced. Without a caliper, what is the best immediate course of action?

Question: You are performing a pre-operational inspection of a telehandler's forks. You notice significant wear on the top surface of the fork blades but no visible cracks. The manufacturer's manual states that forks showing more than 10% wear (reduction in original thickness) must be replaced. Without a caliper, what is the best immediate course of action?

Answer options:

• Continue operation, as wear without cracks is not an immediate safety concern.
• Estimate the wear visually and continue if it appears minimal. ✅ Report the observation to your supervisor and request a detailed inspection with proper measuring tools.
• Sand down the worn areas to prevent further degradation.

Correct answer: Report the observation to your supervisor and request a detailed inspection with proper measuring tools.

Explanation: Significant wear on fork blades, even without cracks, compromises their load-bearing capacity and can lead to failure. Without precise measurement, the best immediate action is to report the observation to your supervisor and request a proper inspection by qualified personnel using specialized tools to determine if the wear exceeds the manufacturer's limits. Operating with potentially compromised forks is unsafe.