Forklift Controls
In any warehouse environment, among the most common machines is a lift truck or forklift. These versatile machinery are comprised of a vehicle along with two pronged forks at the front which could haul and lift heavy items.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and can lift objects into hard to reach, up high places. Forklifts are still very dangerous machines and should be used in a safe way all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's manual and be familiar with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of every specific control and what specific feature it functions. Most lift trucks have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, the lever must be pushed forward. To move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
There is another lever which controls the tilt of the forks. This tilting capability enables for better weight distribution. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps things slide off in a more balanced method while unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are equipped with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Each and every one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced drivers should take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the qualified expert if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is usually the best way to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the machinery go, you use the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of forklifts. There are several types of hydrostatic forklifts that 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.