Forklift Controls
Among the most common pieces 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 could haul and carry heavy things.
The regular forklift is built to function and move in small spaces and can carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and have to be utilized safely at all times, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, take time to read the owner's handbook and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each particular control and what particular feature it functions. Most forklifts have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, you push the lever forward. To move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is another lever which controls the forks tilt. This tilting capability enables for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep things steady and won't allow objects to fall off while driving. In addition, it helps items slide off while unloading in a more balanced method.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, when pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are equipped with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Prior to using the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained colleague. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not in use. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions about how anything works.
Observation is usually the best way 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 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 kinds of forklifts. There are several types of hydrostatic forklifts which 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.