How to Utilize a Forklift
Lift trucks are material handling equipment which could move loads. Most commonly, these equipment are used in certain industries to move heavy materials in a wide variety of settings such as airports, supply companies and warehouses. Any person operating a forklift should be taught to use the machine cautiously. It is essential to be fully aware of one's environment when driving a forklift. Lift trucks are designed to run on gasoline, propane, diesel or batteries. Regular lift trucks are popular in a wide range of commercial applications and are truly not difficult to use with correct training. The following steps outline the fundamentals of using a lift truck:
1 Get familiar with all the levers which are utilized to transport and maneuver the load from location to another location. The levers can be found to the right side of the steering wheel.
2 The first lever can move the blades up and down. Pulling the lever towards you moves the blades up, and pushing the lever away from you moves them down. Tines should always be kept close to the ground except when loading or unloading.
3 The two other levers work to control the blades movement left and right and to control the blades tilt. The forks are designed to tilt between 15 and 30 degrees. It is better that you practice before picking up a load. Utilizing the second lever, pull it towards you to tilt the blades back, and push it away from you to tilt the blades forward.
4 The third lever is moved side to side to control the fork's movement from left to right. Simply move the lever in the direction of where you want the blades to move: right to move the tines right and left to move the blades left.
5 Carefully approach the cargo. Lower the tines and cautiously drive forward until the tines slide under the load. Then lift the blades a few centimeters by pulling the lever towards you. If the load is top-heavy, you should tilt the blades backwards a little for balance.
6 Warn other individuals and personnel when the lift truck is approaching by honking and take safety precautions by slowly taking corners and honking. Approach the place where you will be working carefully. Manipulate the levers to maneuver the load to where it is going. When the load is placed, reverse gears and back away carefully.
7 Forklifts stop pretty much the same way as other types of vehicles. The brake is located to the accelerator's left side. Once stopped, put the gear into "park."