Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse environment, one of the most common machinery is a lift truck or forklift. These all-around machinery are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that can transport and carry bulky objects.
Forklifts are able to maneuver in small spaces and could lift items into up high, hard to reach places. Lift trucks are still really dangerous equipment and must be utilized safely all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
Make the time to read the owners handbook after acquiring a new forklift to help you familiarize yourself with the controls. The instruction manual would feature the specific location of each control and the functions it has. Nearly all lift trucks have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the height of the fork. 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.
There is a second lever that controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability allows for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep items stable and won't allow things to fall off while driving. Additionally, it helps things slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
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 outfitted with a third lever that controls the fork width. Every one of these levers is situated just to the right of the operator's seat.
Before using the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained colleague. Be certain to do this when the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the qualified expert if you have any questions regarding how anything functions.
Watch how the coworker shows the function of each of the controls. Observation is often the best way to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you utilize the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of forklifts. There are several types of hydrostatic forklifts that are equipped with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.