The Safe and Proper Way to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are essential machinery that are used to move and lift bulky loads and various materials. This particular material handling equipment is used on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found everywhere from inside warehouses, a building supply company, at airports and in storage units and department stores. When utilizing a forklift, it is essential to be fully aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
First, you should turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers located at the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you would be using to transport a thing from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it needs to be placed.
Secondly, move the forks up and down using the first lever. Pull the lever towards you to be able to move the fork up. To be able to move the fork down, push the lever away from your body. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks must ideally be kept close to the ground.
Then, practice utilizing the other two levers before picking up a load. The second lever is used for tilting the forks forwards and backwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from your body. In order to tilt the forks back, pull the levers towards you. These forks are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is utilized to control the movement of the forks from left to right. This is something that you must get used to. From side to side, they could move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move in the direction of where you would like the forks positioned.
When you are sure that you already know what you are supposed to be do, approach the load you want to pick up carefully. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide under the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to slightly tilt the forks backwards.
You must go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn situated on the steering wheel so as to alert other people of the approaching machine. Slowly approach the place where you will be unloading. Utilize the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slightly step on the brake. It is located on the left of the accelerator.