Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse environment, amongst the most common machines is a forklift or lift truck. These versatile machines are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that are capable of hauling and carrying bulky objects.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and capable of lifting items into hard to reach, up high places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and need to be operated safely all the time, 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 manual will feature the specific location of each control and the functions it has. Most forklifts have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, you push the lever forward. To move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is used to tilt the forks allowing for better distribution of weight across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. In addition, it helps items slide off in a more balanced method when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Various forklift models are outfitted with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this when the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the trained expert if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is normally the best way to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the machine go, you utilize the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of lift trucks. There are some 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.