Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, one of the most common equipments is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile equipment consist of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front which could move and lift bulky objects.
Forklifts are able to maneuver in small spaces and capable of lifting things into hard to reach, up high places. Forklifts are still very dangerous equipment and must be used safely 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 familiarize yourself with the controls. The guidebook would feature the particular location of each and every control and the functions it has. The majority of lift trucks have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the height of the fork. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed forward. To be able to move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is a second lever that controls the forks tilt. This tilting capability allows for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep objects stable and won't allow things to fall off while driving. Additionally, it helps items slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and to be able to tilt the forks forward, you just push the lever forward. Various 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 operator's seat.
Before operating the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a qualified colleague. Be sure to do this while the forklift is turned off and not being used. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions about how anything works.
Observation is normally the best method to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of every control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that to be able to make the machine go, you use the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of forklifts. There are some hydrostatic models that are equipped with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.