Forklift Controls
Among the most common types of machines you will see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around machinery are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that can move and lift heavy items.
Forklifts are able to maneuver in small spaces and capable of lifting items into up high, hard to reach places. Forklifts are still very dangerous machinery and should be utilized safely at all times, 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 sure to take note of the location of every specific control and what specific feature it functions. Nearly all 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, 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 distribution of weight across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep objects stable and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and to be able to tilt the forks forward, you just push the lever forward. Various forklift models are outfitted with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of qualified coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not in use. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions about how something works.
Observation is normally the best way to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker showing the function of each control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the equipment go, you utilize 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 forklifts. 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.