Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, among the most common machinery is a forklift or lift truck. These versatile equipment are comprised of a vehicle with two split forks at the front that are capable of moving and lifting bulky objects.
The regular lift truck is built to work and move in small spaces and is able to lift items to and from high up places. Forklifts are still very dangerous equipment and should be operated safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's manual and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of every specific control and what specific 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, you push the lever 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 distribution of weight across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep things steady and won't allow things to fall off when driving. Furthermore, it helps items slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Some forklift models are equipped with a third lever which controls the width of the forks. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of experienced coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this when the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions regarding how anything functions.
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 machinery go, you utilize 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 types of hydrostatic forklifts that 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.