Forklift Truck Training
To be given certification as a lift truck driver, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you would be using on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Numerous accidents involving lift trucks happen at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and operators need to know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers consist of both classroom instruction and practical training that can be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training should be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year around 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. The majority of these accidents can be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.