Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, among the most common machines is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile equipment are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that are capable of transporting and carrying heavy things.
The regular forklift is built to work and move in small spaces and can lift things to and from high up places. Forklifts are still really dangerous equipment and need to be used safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, make time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of every particular control and what particular feature it functions. Most 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 must be pushed forward. To be able to move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
There is a second lever which controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability enables for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep things steady and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. Additionally, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way while unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, when pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Some types of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Prior to using the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained coworker. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions about how something works.
Watch how the coworker shows the function of each of the controls. Observation is often the best method to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that to be able to make the machinery 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 forklifts. There are some kinds of hydrostatic forklifts that are outfitted with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.