Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse setting, among the most common equipments is a lift truck or forklift. These all-around equipment are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front which are capable of moving and lifting heavy things.
The standard forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and is able to carry objects to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still really dangerous equipment and should be used in a safe manner at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, make time to read the owner's guidebook and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each particular control and what specific feature it functions. Nearly all 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, you push the lever forward. To move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
There is another lever which controls the forks tilt. This tilting capability allows for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. Additionally, it helps items 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 would tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are equipped with a third lever that controls the fork width. Each and every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Before utilizing the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a qualified coworker. Be certain to do this while the forklift is off and not in use. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions about how anything works.
Watch how the coworker shows the function of each of the controls. Observation is often the best method to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you use the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are some hydrostatic models which are complete with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.