How to Use a Forklift
Important equipment used to move and lift various kinds of materials and bulky loads are forklifts. This material handling machinery is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found all over from in warehouses, a building supply company, within storage units and department stores and at airports. When using a forklift, it is important to be fully 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 located at 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 has to 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 your body. Unless you are loading or unloading an item, the forks should ideally be kept near the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, use 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 your body. In order to tilt the forks back, pull the levers towards your body. These forks could tilt between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is used to control the fork's movement from left to right. This is something which you should get used to. From side to side, they could move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you would like the forks placed.
When you are familiar, carefully approach the load you wish to pick up. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide beneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be certain to slightly tilt the forks backwards.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel to be able to alert others of the approaching machine. Slowly approach the area where you will be unloading. Use the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
Stopping the forklift is similar to stopping a car. Slowly step on the brake. It is situated on the left of the accelerator.