The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Essential machinery used to move and lift different types of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling equipment is used on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found all over from a building supply company, in warehouses, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When utilizing a forklift, it is very important to be fully aware of your surroundings in order to be safe.
First, you must turn the key to power up the forklift. 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 must be positioned.
The next step is to use the first lever to move the forks up and down. Pull the lever towards you to move the fork up. To be able to move the fork down, push the lever away from your body. Unless you are loading or unloading an object, the forks must ideally be kept near the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is responsible for tilting the forks backwards and forwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from you. 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 movement of the forks 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 want the forks positioned.
When you are sure that you already know what you are supposed to be do, approach the load you want to pick up slowly. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide beneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to slowly tilt the forks backwards.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel to be able to alert others of the approaching equipment. Slowly approach the area where you would be unloading. Utilize the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is situated on the left of the accelerator.