The Safe and Proper Way to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are essential machines that are used to transport and raise heavy loads and various supplies. This particular material handling machine is used on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from inside warehouses, a building supply company, at airports and within storage units and department stores. When operating a forklift, it is very important to be fully aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
First, you must turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will be utilizing to move a thing from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it should be placed.
Secondly, move the forks down and up 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 loading or unloading an item, the forks should ideally be kept near the ground.
Before picking up loads, utilize the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is responsible for tilting the forks backwards and forwards. 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 third lever is utilized to control the movement of the forks from right to left. This is something that you should get used to. From side to side, they can move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you would like the forks placed.
When you are certain that you already know what you are supposed to be do, approach the load you would like to pick up slowly. 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. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to tilt the forks backwards slightly.
You must go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn found on the steering wheel in order to alert other individuals of the approaching machinery. Carefully approach the place where you will 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.