The Safe and Proper Way to Utilize a Forklift
Essential machinery used to move and lift various kinds of materials and heavy loads are forklifts. This material handling equipment is used on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from in warehouses, a building supply company, at airports and in storage units and department stores. When operating a forklift, it is really important to be fully 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 found to the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you will use to move an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it needs to be placed.
Secondly, move the forks up and down utilizing 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 must ideally be kept close to the ground.
Before picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is used 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 you. These forks are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is used to control the fork's movement from right to left. This is something which 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 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. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from your body. Carefully drive forward 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 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.