How to Use a Forklift
Important equipment used to move and lift different kinds of supplies and heavy loads are forklifts. This particular material handling machine is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found all over from inside warehouses, a building supply business, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When using a forklift, it is very essential to be completely aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
The first step is to power up the forklift by turning the key. Become familiar with the levers found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be using to transport a thing from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it needs to be positioned.
Secondly, move the forks down and up utilizing 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 loading or unloading an item, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Then, practice utilizing the other two levers before picking up a load. The second lever is utilized for tilting the forks forwards and backwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from your body. 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 utilizing the 3rd lever to control the forks movement 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 would like the forks placed.
When you are familiar, slowly approach the load you want to pick up. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Carefully drive forward 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 slowly.
You must go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn found on the steering wheel in order to alert other people of the approaching equipment. Slowly approach the area where you will be unloading. Utilize 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. Slightly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.