How to Use a Forklift
Important machines used to transport and raise various kinds of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling machine is utilized on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found all over from a building supply business, inside warehouses, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When utilizing a forklift, it is important to be fully aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
First, you should turn the key to start the forklift. Become familiar with the levers located at the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will use to move an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it should be placed.
The second step is to utilize the first lever to move the forks up and down. Pull the lever towards you to move the fork up. In order to move the fork down, push the lever away from you. Unless you are loading or unloading an object, the forks should ideally be kept near the ground.
Next, practice utilizing the other two levers before picking up a load. The second lever is responsible for tilting the forks forwards and backwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from you. In order to tilt the forks back, pull the levers towards your body. These forks can tilt between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is utilized to control the movement of the forks from right to left. This is something that you should get used to. From side to side, they could move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move in the direction of where you want the forks placed.
When you are certain 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 your body. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide beneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to slowly tilt the forks backwards.
You must go slow when you drive around corners. Make certain that you honk the horn located on the steering wheel to be able to alert other people of the approaching equipment. Slowly approach the place where you would be unloading. Use the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
Stopping the forklift is like stopping a motor vehicle. Slightly step on the brake. It is situated on the left of the accelerator.