Forklift Controls
Amongst the most common kinds of machinery you would see in any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around machinery consist of a vehicle with two split forks at the front which could transport and lift bulky objects.
The standard lift truck is built to work and move in small spaces and is able to carry things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous machinery and need to be operated in a safe manner at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, take time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of every particular control and what particular feature it functions. 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, you push the lever forward. To move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is a second lever that controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability allows for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep items steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps objects slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Various kinds of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this when the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how anything works.
Watch how the coworker shows the function of each of the controls. Observation is normally the best method to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the machine go, you utilize the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of forklifts. There are some hydrostatic models which are outfitted with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.