Forklift Controls
One of the most common kinds of machines you will see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around equipment consist of a vehicle with two split forks at the front that could haul and lift heavy things.
The standard forklift is designed to function and move in small spaces and is able to lift objects to and from high up places. Forklifts are still really dangerous equipment and should be used in a safe manner all the time, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of every specific control and what particular feature it functions. The majority of forklifts have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, you push the lever forward. 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 things steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Furthermore, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way while unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Several forklift models are outfitted with a third lever which controls the width of the forks. Every one of these levers is located just to the right of the driver's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of experienced coworkers who can go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is turned off and not operational. Ask the trained professional if you have any questions regarding how anything functions.
Observation is usually the best method to learn new forklift skills. So make time to observe a coworker showing the function of every control. On hydrostatic forklifts, notice that in order to make the machine go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you simply release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these types of lift trucks. There are several types of hydrostatic forklifts which are equipped with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.