Forklift Controls
One of the most common pieces of machinery you will see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile equipment consist of a vehicle along with two split forks at the front that could haul and lift heavy items.
The standard forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and can carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous equipment and must be utilized in a safe manner all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, take time to read the owner's guidebook and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each particular control and what specific feature it functions. Most forklifts have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed forward. To move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is a second lever that controls the forks tilt. This tilting capability allows for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep things steady and won't allow items to fall off while driving. Furthermore, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Various types of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not being used. 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 forklifts, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you use the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of forklifts. There are several kinds of hydrostatic forklifts which are complete with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.