How to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are important machinery which are utilized to move and raise heavy loads and various materials. This particular material handling machinery is utilized on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found everywhere from a building supply business, inside warehouses, within department stores and storage units and at airports. When operating a forklift, it is important to be completely aware of your surroundings so as to be safe.
The first step is to power up 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 transport a thing from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it has to be placed.
The second step is to use the first lever to move the forks down and up. Pull the lever towards you in order to move the fork up. To be able to move the fork down, push the lever away from your body. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks must ideally be kept close to the ground.
Next, practice utilizing the other two levers before picking up a load. The second lever is responsible 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 your body. These forks can tilt between 15 and 30 degrees.
The next thing to get used of is using the 3rd lever to control the forks movement from the left to right. From side to side, they can move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move in the direction of where you want the forks placed.
Once you are familiar, slowly approach the load you want to pick up. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from your body. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide underneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to slightly tilt the forks backwards.
You should go slow when you drive around corners. Make certain that you honk the horn found on the steering wheel in order to alert other people of the approaching machine. Carefully 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 motor vehicle then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is situated on the left of the accelerator.