Lift truck Truck Training
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to receive forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you would be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo certification and training. Basic credentials for utilizing a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any forklift driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps frequently occur on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators must know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck operators include both practical training and classroom instruction which could be tailored for the specific needs of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year approximately 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Most of these accidents can be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.