The Proper and Safe Way to Use a Forklift
Forklifts are essential equipment which are utilized to move and raise bulky loads and various supplies. This material handling machinery is used every day in our society. Forklifts are found all around from inside warehouses, a building supply business, in storage units and department stores and at airports. When using a forklift, it is important 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 use to move an object from one place to another and also to maneuver the thing to where it should be placed.
Secondly, move the forks down and up 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 your body. Unless you are loading or unloading an item, the forks should ideally be kept near the ground.
Before picking up loads, use the other two levers and practice first. The second lever is used for tilting the forks backwards and forwards. 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 left to right. This is something which you must get used to. From side to side, they could move between 6 and 12 inches. The levers move towards where you want the forks placed.
When you are certain that you already know what you are supposed to be do, approach the load you want to pick up slowly. To be able to lower the forks, push the first lever away from you. Carefully drive forward until the forks slide beneath the load. Carefully lift the load by pulling the lever towards you. If the load feels top heavy, be sure to tilt the forks backwards slightly.
You should go slow when you drive around corners. Make sure that you honk the horn situated on the steering wheel to be able to alert other people of the approaching machine. Carefully approach the place where you will be unloading. Utilize 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 found to the left of the accelerator.