How to Use a Forklift
Lift trucks are lifting equipment that can move cargo. They are commonly used in a variety of industries to move heavy supplies. They can be found at building supply companies, warehouses and airports. Anyone operating a forklift needs to be trained to cautiously use the machinery. It is vital to be totally aware of one's surroundings when driving a forklift. Forklifts are designed to run on propane, gasoline, batteries or diesel. Standard forklifts are common in various commercial applications and are not difficult to use with correct training. The following steps outline the fundamentals of using a lift truck:
1 Familiarize yourself with the levers which will be utilized to maneuver the cargo and to move the object from one place to another. The levers can be found to the right of the steering wheel.
2 The first lever could move the blades up and down. Pushing the lever away from your body moves them down and pulling the lever towards you moves the forks up. Blades must always be kept close to the ground except when unloading or loading.
3 The other two levers control the tilt and the right/left movement of the tines. The forks are designed to tilt between 15 and 30 degrees. It is recommended that you practice prior to picking up a load. Utilizing the second lever, push it away from you to tilt the blades forward, and pull it towards your body to tilt the tines back.
4 The third lever is moved side to side to control the movement of the forks from right to left. Just move the lever towards where you want the forks to move: left in order to move the forks left, and right to move the forks right.
5 Always approach a cargo cautiously. Lower the forks and drive forward cautiously until the blades slide under the cargo. Then lift the blades several centimeters by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load is top-heavy, you have to tilt the forks backwards a little for balance.
6 Alert other people and employees when the lift truck is approaching by honking and take safety measures by slowly taking corners and honking. Approach the place where you would be working cautiously. Control the levers to maneuver the load to where it is going. When the load is placed, reverse gears and back away cautiously.
7 A forklift stops the same way as an automobile. The brake is found to the accelerator's left side. When stopped, shift the gear into "park."