The Safe and Proper Way to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are important equipment that are used to transport and raise heavy loads and different supplies. This particular material handling machinery is utilized on a daily basis in our society. Forklifts are found all over from a building supply company, in warehouses, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When using a forklift, it is very essential to be fully aware of your surroundings in order 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 would be using to transport an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the item to where it should be placed.
Secondly, move the forks up and down using the first lever. Pull the lever towards you in order to move the fork up. In order to move the fork down, push the lever away from you. Unless you are loading or unloading an object, the forks should ideally be kept close to the ground.
Prior to picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. 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 you. These forks could tilt between 15 and 30 degrees.
The third lever is used to control the fork's movement from left to right. This is something that you must 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 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. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Drive forward carefully 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 slowly tilt the forks backwards.
When driving around corners go slow and get into the habit of honking the horn on the steering wheel in order to alert others 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 car then you know how to stop a forklift. Slowly step on the brake. It is located on the left of the accelerator.