Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse environment, among the most common machinery is a forklift or lift truck. These all-around equipment consist of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front which are capable of transporting and lifting bulky items.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and could lift objects into hard to reach, up high places. Forklifts are still extremely dangerous equipment and must be operated safely all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, take time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be sure 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 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 utilized to tilt the forks allowing for better distribution of weight across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep objects stable and won't allow things to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off in a more balanced method while unloading.
In order to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Some forklift models are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced drivers must take advantage of experienced coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is usually the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that to be able to make the machine go, you utilize the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of forklifts. There are several hydrostatic models that are outfitted with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.