Forklift Controls
Among the most common types of machines you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around machinery consist of a vehicle along with two split forks at the front that are capable of moving and lifting bulky things.
The regular lift truck is built to function and move in small spaces and is able to carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous machines and must be utilized safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's handbook and be familiar with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of every specific control and what particular feature it functions. Most 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.
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 things stable and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. In addition, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way while unloading.
In order to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and to be able to tilt the forks forward, you just push the lever forward. Several forklift models are outfitted with a third lever that controls the fork width. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Prior to operating the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained colleague. Be certain to do this when the forklift is turned off and not in use. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is normally the best method to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of each control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that to be able to make the machinery go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are several hydrostatic models which are complete with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.