How to Correctly Use a Forklift
Lift trucks are lifting machinery that can transport cargo. They are normally utilized in various industries to move heavy materials. They could be found at building supply companies, warehouses and airports. Any individual operating a forklift should be taught to utilize the equipment carefully. It is essential to be fully aware of one's environment when operating a forklift. Lift trucks are designed to run on propane, gasoline, diesel or batteries. Regular forklifts are popular in various commercial applications and are truly not hard to utilize with proper training. The following steps outline the basics of using a forklift:
1 Familiarize yourself with the levers which will be used to maneuver the cargo and to transport the item from one location to another. The levers can be found to the steering wheel's right side.
2 The first lever can move the forks down and up. Pushing the lever away from your body moves them down and pulling the lever towards you moves the tines up. Tines should always be kept close to the ground except when loading or unloading.
3 The other two levers control the tilt and the left/right movement of the blades. The blades are designed to tilt between 15 and 30 degrees. It is recommended that you practice prior to picking up a load. Using the second lever, pull it towards your body to tilt the tines back, and push it away from you to tilt the forks forward.
4 The third lever is moved side to side to control the movement of the forks from left to right. Just move the lever in the direction of where you want the tines to move: left to move the forks left, and right in order to move the tines right.
5 Always approach a load cautiously. Lower the tines and cautiously drive forward until the forks slide under the load. Next lift the forks a few centimeters by pulling the lever towards your body. If the cargo is top-heavy, you should tilt the tines backwards a small amount for balance.
6 Safe driving rules include taking corners slowly and honking to alert pedestrians or other employees that the lift truck is approaching. Approach the area where you will be working with care. Control the levers to maneuver the load to where it is going. When the cargo is placed, reverse gears and cautiously back away.
7 A forklift stops the same way as an automobile. The brake is located to the left side of the accelerator. When stopped, put the gear into "park."