How to Use a Forklift
Lift trucks are lifting machines which could transport loads. They are normally used in a variety of industries to move heavy supplies. They could be found at warehouses, airports and building supply companies. Anyone operating a lift truck has to be trained to use the equipment carefully. It is vital to be fully aware of one's environment when driving a forklift. Forklifts are designed to run on propane, gasoline, diesel or batteries. Typical lift trucks are common in a wide array of commercial applications and are really not difficult to use with proper training. The following steps outline the basics of operating a lift truck:
1 Familiarize yourself with the levers which will be utilized to maneuver the load and to transport the object from one place to another. The levers can be found to the right side of the steering wheel.
2 The first lever controls the up and down movement of the blades. Pulling the lever towards you moves the forks up, and pushing the lever away from your body moves them down. Forks must always be kept near the ground except when loading or unloading.
3 The other two levers control the tilt and the left/right movement of the forks. The blades are designed to tilt between 15 and 30 degrees. It is recommended that you practice before picking up a load. Utilizing the second lever, pull it towards your body to tilt the forks back, and push it away from your body to tilt the blades forward.
4 Lever number 4 is utilized to control the forks side to side movement from right to left. Just move the lever towards where you want the blades to move: right in order to move the blades right and left to move the forks left.
5 Carefully approach the load. Lower the blades and drive forward cautiously until the forks slide under the load. After that lift the forks a few centimeters by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load is top-heavy, you must tilt the tines backwards a small amount for balance.
6 Alert other people and personnel when the forklift is approaching by honking and take safety precautions by taking corners slowly and honking. Approach the place where you would be working carefully. Manipulate the levers to maneuver the cargo to where it is going. When the load is positioned, reverse gears and cautiously back away.
7 Lift trucks stop pretty much the same way as other kinds of vehicles. The brake is situated to the left of the accelerator. Once stopped, put the gear into "park."