How to Use a Forklift
Important machinery used to transport and lift various types of supplies and heavy loads are forklifts. This particular material handling machine is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from a building supply business, inside warehouses, within department stores and storage units and at airports. When operating a forklift, it is essential to be completely aware of your surroundings in order to be safe.
First, you should turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be using to transport an item from one place to another and also to maneuver the object to where it should be positioned.
Secondly, move the forks down and up using the first lever. Pull the lever towards you to move the fork up. In order to move the fork down, push the lever away from your body. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, utilize the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is used for tilting the forks backwards and forwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from you. In order to tilt the forks back, pull the levers towards you. These forks are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The next thing to get used of is using the 3rd lever to control the movement of the forks from the right to left. From side to side, they could move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move in the direction of where you want the forks placed.
When you are familiar, slowly approach the load you want to pick up. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide underneath the load. Slightly lift the load by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to tilt the forks backwards slightly.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel to be able to alert others of the approaching equipment. Carefully approach the place where you will be unloading. Use the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a motor vehicle then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.