Forklift Controls
Among the most common types of machinery you will see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile machines consist of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that could transport and carry heavy things.
The standard lift truck is designed to function and move in small spaces and could lift items to and from high up places. Forklifts are still extremely dangerous machinery and need to be utilized safely all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
Take the time to read the owners instruction manual after acquiring a new forklift to help you familiarize yourself with the controls. The handbook will feature the specific location of each and every control and the functions it has. The majority of forklifts have two levers that 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 another lever which controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability enables for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep items steady and won't allow things to fall off when driving. Furthermore, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks would tilt back, when pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Some 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 driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of qualified coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is off and not in use. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions regarding how anything works.
Observation is usually the best method 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 machine go, you use 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 hydrostatic models which are equipped with battery powered engines which turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.