Forklift Controls
In any warehouse environment, amongst the most common machinery is a lift truck or forklift. These all-around machines are comprised of a vehicle along with two split forks at the front which can haul and lift heavy items.
The regular forklift is designed to work and move in small spaces and can lift objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous equipment and must be operated in a safe manner at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
Take the time to read the owners instruction manual after acquiring a new forklift to help you get familiar with the controls. The handbook will feature the particular location of each and every control and the functions it has. The majority of 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 just pull back on the lever.
There is another lever that controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability enables for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow items to fall off while driving. In addition, it helps things slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
In order to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and to be able to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Some kinds of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the width of the forks. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is off and not operational. Ask the qualified expert if you have any questions about how anything works.
Observation is often the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that to be able to make the machine go, you use 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 several hydrostatic models which are outfitted with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.