Forklift Controls
Among the most common types of equipment you will see in any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around machinery consist of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front that could move and lift heavy things.
Forklifts could maneuver in small spaces and can lift objects into up high, hard to reach places. Lift trucks are still very dangerous machinery and should be utilized safely at all times, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, make time to read the owner's handbook and familiarize yourself with the controls. Be sure to take note of the location of each specific control and what particular feature it functions. Most lift trucks have two levers that control the forks. The first lever controls the height of the fork. In order to make the forks go down, the lever should be pushed 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 objects steady and won't allow objects to fall off while driving. In addition, it helps objects slide off in a more balanced way when unloading.
By pulling the second lever back, the forks will tilt back, while pushing the lever forward will tilt the forks forward. Some types of forklifts are equipped with a third lever that controls the width of the forks. Each one of these levers is located just to the right of the operator's seat.
Inexperienced operators must take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this when the forklift is off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions regarding how anything works.
Observation is normally the best method to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of every control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that in order to make the equipment go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of lift trucks. There are some hydrostatic models which are outfitted with battery powered engines that shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up once the gas pedal is pushed again.