The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Essential machines used to move and lift different kinds of supplies and bulky loads are forklifts. This particular material handling equipment is used daily in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from inside warehouses, a building supply business, within department stores and storage units and at airports. When operating a forklift, it is very important to be fully 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 would use to transport an item 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 using the first lever. Pull the lever towards you to be able to move the fork up. In order to move the fork down, push the lever away from you. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Prior to 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 are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is utilized to control the fork's movement from right to left. This is something that you must 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 positioned.
When you are familiar, carefully approach the load you wish to pick up. In order to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Drive forward carefully until the forks slide underneath 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.
You should go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn situated on the steering wheel in order to alert other people of the approaching machinery. Slowly 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. Slightly step on the brake. It is found to the left of the accelerator.