The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Essential equipment used to move and lift different kinds of materials and heavy loads are forklifts. This particular material handling equipment is utilized daily in our society. Forklifts are found anywhere from a building supply company, inside warehouses, 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.
First, you must turn the key to power up the forklift. Become familiar with the levers located at the right of the steering wheel. These levers are what you would use to transport an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the object 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 you. Unless you are unloading or loading an item, the forks must ideally be kept close to the ground.
Then, practice utilizing the other two levers prior to picking up a load. The second lever is utilized 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 are capable of tilting between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is used to control the movement of the forks from right to left. This is something that you should get used to. From side to side, they can move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you would like the forks positioned.
Once 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 your body. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide underneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards your body. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to tilt the forks backwards slowly.
You must 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 place where you would be unloading. Use the levers to maneuver the load to your final destination.
When you know how to stop a car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is located on the left of the accelerator.