How to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are essential machinery that are used to transport and lift heavy loads and various materials. This particular material handling machinery is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found everywhere from inside warehouses, a building supply company, at airports and within storage units and department stores. When utilizing a forklift, it is essential to be completely aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
The first step is to start the forklift by turning the key. Become familiar with the levers located at the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will utilize to move a thing from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it must be placed.
Secondly, move the forks down and up using the first lever. 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 item, the forks must ideally be kept close to the ground.
Next, practice using the other two levers prior to picking up a load. The second lever is utilized 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 next thing to get used of is using the 3rd lever to control the movement of the forks from the left to right. 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 familiar, carefully approach the load you want to pick up. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from your body. Drive forward carefully 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 sure to tilt the forks backwards slowly.
You should go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn situated on the steering wheel to be able to alert other people of the approaching machinery. Slowly approach the place where you would be unloading. Utilize the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.