The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Important machinery used to move and lift various kinds of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling machine is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from inside warehouses, a building supply business, in department stores and storage units and at airports. When operating a forklift, it is essential to be fully aware of your surroundings in order to be safe.
First, you should turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be utilizing to transport an item from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it needs to be placed.
The second step is to utilize the first lever to move the forks down and up. Pull the lever towards you to move the fork up. In order to move the fork down, push the lever away from you. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Before picking up loads, utilize the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is utilized for tilting the forks forwards and backwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from your body. In order to tilt the forks back, pull the levers towards you. These forks can tilt between 15 and 30 degrees.
The next thing to get used of is using the 3rd lever to control the forks movement from the left to right. From side to side, they can move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you want the forks positioned.
Once you are familiar, slowly approach the load you want to pick up. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide under the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to tilt the forks backwards slowly.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel in order to alert others of the approaching equipment. Carefully approach the area where you will be unloading. Utilize the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a motor vehicle then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is located on the left of the accelerator.