Forklift Controls
In any warehouse environment, one of the most common machinery is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile equipment are comprised of a vehicle with two split forks at the front that could transport and lift heavy objects.
The standard forklift is designed to work and move in small spaces and is able to lift items to and from high up places. Forklifts are still very dangerous machines and should be used in a safe way all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each specific control and what particular feature it functions. Nearly all lift trucks have two levers that 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 just 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 items steady and won't allow objects to fall off while driving. In addition, it helps objects slide off when unloading in a more balanced method.
In order to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and to be able to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Several forklift models are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Before utilizing the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a qualified coworker. Be sure to do this when the forklift is off and not being utilized. Ask the trained expert if you have any questions regarding how anything functions.
Observation is normally the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the machinery go, you utilize the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of forklifts. There are some hydrostatic models which 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.