Forklift Controls
Inside any warehouse environment, one of the most common machinery is a forklift or lift truck. These all-around equipment consist of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front which can haul and carry bulky things.
The regular forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and can carry things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machines and have to be operated safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, make time to read the owner's manual and be familiar with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of each specific control and what particular feature it functions. Most lift trucks have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed forward. To be able 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 items stable and won't allow things to fall off while driving. Moreover, it helps items slide off while unloading in a more balanced method.
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. Some kinds of forklifts are equipped with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is situated just to the right of the operator's seat.
Prior to operating the forklift, sit inside of it and go over what the controls do with a trained colleague. Be certain to do this when the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something functions.
Watch how the coworker demonstrates the function of each of the controls. Observation is often the best way to learn a new skill. On hydrostatic forklifts, 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 lift trucks. There are some kinds of hydrostatic forklifts which 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.