Forklift Controls
Among the most common pieces of equipment you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile machines consist of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front which can move and lift heavy things.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and can lift things into up high, hard to reach places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous equipment and must be utilized safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
Take the time to read the owners manual after acquiring a new forklift to help you familiarize yourself with the controls. The manual will feature the specific location of each control and the functions it has. Most forklifts have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed forward. To be able 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 stable and won't allow items to fall off while driving. Additionally, it helps objects slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Some kinds of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever that controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how anything works.
Observation is normally the best way to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the equipment 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 types of lift trucks. There are some types of hydrostatic forklifts which are complete with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.