# Forklift Turning and Reversing Precautions and Operating Methods

Forklifts operate within enterprises, and due to short travel distances, there are relatively many instances of turning around and reversing. When a forklift turns around or reverses, the driver's line of sight will be limited to a certain extent. Due to limited visibility, incomplete observation, and other reasons, accidents occurring when vehicles turn around or reverse are relatively numerous. For this reason, the following precautions apply to forklift turning and reversing. 1. Turning around: When turning around, a forklift should try to choose a wide road surface or site and make one turn from right to left. When turning around, observe the situation in front, behind, and on both sides in advance, issue a turning signal in a timely manner, and turn around under conditions that do not affect the travel of other vehicles. If it cannot complete the turn in one go and needs to reverse, be sure to carefully observe the situation behind the vehicle, properly control the speed, and sound the horn as a signal. 2. Reversing: When reversing in workshops, warehouses, freight yards, narrow roads, and other sections, a dedicated person should stand on one side behind the forklift (in a position easily seen by the driver) to direct the reversing. When reversing, the forklift driver should not only pay attention to the situation at the rear of the vehicle, but also take into account the position of the front wheels to avoid parts at the front of the vehicle hitting obstacles. Forklifts are not allowed to reverse at intersections, bridges, tunnels, steep slopes, or dangerous sections. 3. Reversing operation method: During forklift operation and loading, unloading, and handling work, reversing is often required. Because visibility is limited when reversing, perception and judgment ability are somewhat weakened, making it relatively difficult to master the direction and position of forklift reverse travel. In addition, when steering while reversing, the original front-wheel steering becomes rear-wheel steering, and the original rear-wheel steering becomes front-wheel steering. This differs from the subjective feeling of usual steering control, and the position for controlling steering has also changed, making reversing less handy, convenient, flexible, and accurate than moving forward. Generally, when reversing, the forklift should first be brought to a complete stop, the surrounding situation should be clearly observed, the reversing route and target should be selected, and attention should be paid to whether there are approaching vehicles, pedestrians, or animals in front or behind. If the reversing path may encounter obstacles, the driver should get out of the vehicle to check when necessary. Then, according to the needs of the situation, put the transmission into the appropriate reverse gear, sound the horn, and adopt a suitable driving posture and operating method. When reversing, care should be taken to control the speed well and not let it become alternately fast and slow, so as to prevent the starter from being weak and causing the engine to stall, or reversing too violently and causing harm.