Forklift Controls
One of the most common pieces of machines you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These versatile machinery are comprised of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front which are capable of moving and carrying bulky items.
The regular forklift is built to work and move in small spaces and could lift things to and from high up places. Forklifts are still really dangerous machinery and have to be used safely at all times, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, take time to read the owner's instruction manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of each particular control and what particular 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, you push the lever forward. To move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is used to tilt the forks allowing for better weight distribution across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep things stable and won't allow objects to fall off while driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off in a more balanced method when unloading.
In order to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you simply push the lever forward. Various types of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the fork width. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced drivers should take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is turned off and not being utilized. Ask the trained expert if you have any questions about how something works.
Observation is normally the best way to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you utilize the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you just 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 that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.