The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Essential equipment utilized to move and raise different kinds of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling machinery is utilized daily in our society. Forklifts are found all around from inside warehouses, a building supply company, within storage units and department stores and at airports. When operating a forklift, it is important to be completely aware of your surroundings in order to be safe.
First, you must turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers located at the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be using to move an item from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it should be positioned.
The next step is to use the first lever to move the forks down and up. 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 unloading or loading an object, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. 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 you. These forks are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is utilized to control the movement of the forks from left to right. This is something which you must get used to. From side to side, they can move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you want the forks positioned.
When you are sure 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 you. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide under the load. Slightly lift the load by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to tilt the forks backwards slightly.
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 machinery. Slowly approach the area where you would be unloading. Utilize 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. Slightly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.