Forklift Controls
Amongst the most common types of machines you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around equipment are comprised of a vehicle together with two pronged forks at the front that are capable of moving and carrying bulky objects.
The standard lift truck is built to function and move in small spaces and could carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machines and should be used safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, take time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of each specific control and what specific feature it functions. Most lift trucks have two levers which 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 be able 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 items stable and won't allow items to fall off while driving. Additionally, it helps items slide off while unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, when pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are equipped with a third lever that controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Before operating the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained colleague. Be sure to do this while the forklift is off and not operational. Ask the trained expert if you have any questions about how something works.
Watch how the coworker demonstrates the function of each of the controls. Observation is normally 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 would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of lift trucks. There are some types of hydrostatic forklifts that are equipped with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.