The Safe and Proper Way to Use a Forklift
Important equipment used to transport and lift different types of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling machine is utilized every day in our society. Forklifts are found everywhere from in warehouses, a building supply business, at airports and within department stores and storage units. When using a forklift, it is important to be fully aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
First, you must 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 would be using to move an item from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it should be placed.
Secondly, move the forks down and up using the first lever. Pull the lever towards you to move the fork up. To be able to move the fork down, push the lever away from you. Unless you are loading or unloading an object, the forks must ideally be kept near the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is responsible for tilting the forks backwards and forwards. 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 are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is utilized to control the movement of the forks from right to left. This is something which you should get used to. From side to side, they can 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 would like 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 underneath the load. Slightly lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to tilt the forks backwards slowly.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel in order to alert others of the approaching equipment. Slowly approach the area where you would be unloading. Use the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a motor vehicle then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.