Lift truck Truck Training
To be given certification as a forklift driver, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training course must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be using on the job location. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anybody operating a lift truck must undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical capacity 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 lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Many mishaps involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators should know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift operators include both classroom instruction and practical training that can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work setting. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year around 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Most of these accidents can be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.