Forklifts are rated before use in order to determine their maximum carrying capacity and center of gravity. You can find this information on a name plate which should be given to you by the manufacturer. It is very important that you know what these levels are because it can be extremely unsafe to use a fork lift if you exceed it’s carrying capacity.
Fork lifts operate by way of rear-wheel steering because this increases the agility in tight corners and so this will differs from a traditional driving machine. This can also be dangerous if you are unaware of how to drive you’re forklift properly. It is necessary to apply a lot of steering force to maintain a straight ahead course. This is similar to when driving a car in reverse. Another characteristic of the forklift that you should be aware of is that it is very unstable; this means that the forklift and load must be considered a singular unit, and this must be taken into consideration while driving because the center of gravity is constantly shifting. If you have a raised load on your forklift, you should never attempt to make a turn while in motion because this can result in a deadly accident in which the fork lift would tip over. The Forklift is designed with a maximum loading ability for the forks, which will decrease if the forks elevate. A loading plate reference should be located somewhere on the forklift. A forklift should never be used as a human elevator unless you are using specific safety equipment such as a cage. Most companies or fork lift manufacturers will require that the driver be certified by having safety courses and a specialized drivers license. All cities offer this course, which can help you get a good job in a trade and further enlighten you on the safety precautions of driving a forklift. Good luck and be safe!
