Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, amongst the most common machinery is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile machines consist of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front that can move and carry bulky items.
The standard forklift is built to work and move in small spaces and can lift things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and should be operated 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 get familiar with the controls. The handbook would feature the specific location of each and every control and the functions it has. Nearly all 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 move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
There is a second lever which controls the forks tilt. This tilting capability enables for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep objects steady and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off in a more balanced method when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Several types of forklifts are equipped with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Every one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced drivers must take advantage of experienced coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is off and not in use. Ask the qualified expert if you have any questions regarding how something works.
Observation is often the best way to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the equipment go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are some types of hydrostatic forklifts that are outfitted with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.