Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, among the most common machines is a lift truck or forklift. These all-around equipment consist of a vehicle along with two pronged forks at the front that are capable of hauling and lifting bulky objects.
The regular forklift is built to work and move in small spaces and could carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and have to be used safely at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
Make the time to read the owners handbook after acquiring a new forklift to help you familiarize yourself with the controls. The manual would feature the particular location of each control and the functions it has. Nearly all 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, the lever should be pushed forward. To move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is another lever that controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability enables for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow objects to fall off while driving. In addition, it helps things 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 will tilt the forks forward. Some kinds of forklifts are equipped with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of experienced coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the trained expert if you have any questions about how something functions.
Observation is often the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that in order 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 kinds of forklifts. There are several hydrostatic models which are complete with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.