Forklift Controls
Amongst the most common kinds of equipment you will see in any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile machines consist of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front which are capable of moving and carrying bulky things.
The standard forklift is designed to work and move in small spaces and is able to carry items to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machines and must be operated safely at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's guidebook and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each specific control and what particular feature it functions. Most forklifts have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the height of the fork. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed forward. To move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is utilized to tilt the forks allowing for better weight distribution across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep things steady and won't allow things to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are equipped with a third lever that controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced drivers must take advantage of qualified coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not in use. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions regarding how something works.
Watch how the coworker shows the function of each of the controls. Observation is often the best way to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that in order to make the machinery go, you utilize the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are some hydrostatic models which are outfitted with battery powered engines which turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.