Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse environment, amongst the most common machinery is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile machines are comprised of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front which are capable of transporting and lifting heavy things.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and could lift items into hard to reach, up high places. Forklifts are still very dangerous machines and need to be used safely all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
Take the time to read the owners handbook after acquiring a new forklift to help you familiarize yourself with the controls. The handbook would feature the particular location of every control and the functions it has. Nearly all lift trucks have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the height of the fork. In order to make the forks go down, the lever must be pushed forward. To move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is used to tilt the forks allowing for better weight distribution across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep items steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Additionally, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced method when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, while pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Various types of forklifts are equipped with a third lever which controls the fork width. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Before utilizing the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained coworker. Be sure to do this when the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is normally the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the machine go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of lift trucks. There are some hydrostatic models that are complete with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.