Forklift Controls
One of the most common types of machines you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile machinery are comprised of a vehicle with two split forks at the front which could haul and carry heavy items.
The regular forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and can carry objects to and from high up places. Forklifts are still extremely dangerous machines and need to 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 instruction manual and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of every particular control and what specific feature it functions. The majority of lift trucks 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 must be pushed forward. To be able to move the forks upwards, you just pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is utilized to tilt the forks allowing for better weight distribution across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep items stable and won't allow objects to fall off when driving. Furthermore, it helps things slide off when unloading in a more balanced way.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Some forklift models are outfitted with a third lever which controls the width of the forks. Every one of these levers is situated just to the right of the driver's seat.
Before operating the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a qualified colleague. Be sure to do this when the forklift is off and not being used. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is usually the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the machinery 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 kinds of lift trucks. There are several types of hydrostatic forklifts that are complete with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.