Forklift Controls
One of the most common types of machines you would see in any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile equipment consist of a vehicle together with two pronged forks at the front that are capable of moving and carrying heavy items.
The standard lift truck is built to work and move in small spaces and can lift things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and must 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 handbook would feature the specific location of every control and the functions it has. Most forklifts have two levers which 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 be able to move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
There is another lever that controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability allows for better distribution of weight. This tilting action helps to keep items steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Additionally, it helps things slide off while unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, when pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Various types of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever that controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Prior to using the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a qualified colleague. Be certain to do this while the forklift is off and not in use. Ask the qualified expert if you have any questions regarding how something works.
Observation is often the best way to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are several hydrostatic models that are equipped with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.