How to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are important machinery that are used to transport and lift bulky loads and various supplies. This material handling machine is used on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found everywhere from a building supply business, in warehouses, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When utilizing a forklift, it is really important to be completely aware of your surroundings in order to be safe.
The first step is to start the forklift by turning the key. Become familiar with the levers found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be using to transport an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it should be positioned.
Secondly, move the forks up and down 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 unloading or loading an item, the forks must ideally be kept near the ground.
Then, practice using the other two levers prior to picking up a load. The second lever is used for tilting the forks forwards and backwards. In order to tilt the forks forwards, push the lever away from your body. 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 that 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 would like the forks positioned.
When you are familiar, slowly approach the load you want to pick up. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide underneath 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 slowly.
You should go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn found on the steering wheel so as to alert other people of the approaching machine. 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 car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slightly step on the brake. It is situated on the left of the accelerator.