Forklift Controls
In any warehouse environment, among the most common equipments is a lift truck or forklift. These all-around machines are comprised of a vehicle together with two pronged forks at the front which are capable of transporting and lifting heavy things.
The regular forklift is designed to work and move in small spaces and could lift things to and from high up places. Forklifts are still extremely dangerous machinery and need to be operated safely all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, take time to read the owner's instruction manual and be familiar with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of every particular control and what particular feature it functions. Most 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 be able to move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is utilized to tilt the forks allowing for better distribution of weight across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep items stable and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off while unloading in a more balanced way.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward would tilt the forks forward. Some types of forklifts 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 operator's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this when the forklift is off and not in use. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Observation is often 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 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 forklifts. There are several hydrostatic models which are equipped with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.