Forklift Controls
In any warehouse environment, among the most common equipments is a forklift or lift truck. These versatile machines consist of a vehicle together with two split forks at the front which can transport and lift heavy things.
The standard forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and could lift things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still extremely dangerous equipment and must be utilized safely all the time, after correct training and certification has taken place.
When new to a lift truck, take time to read the owner's guidebook and be familiar with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of each particular control and what specific feature it functions. The majority of forklifts 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 just 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 steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Furthermore, it helps things slide off in a more balanced way while unloading.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you just push the lever forward. Various types of forklifts are outfitted with a third lever which controls the width of the forks. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators should take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be certain to do this while the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how something works.
Observation is often the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the machine go, you use the gas. And if you want to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of forklifts. There are some types of hydrostatic forklifts which are outfitted with battery powered engines that turn off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.