Forklift Truck Training
In order to be given certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job location. Training should also reflect the environment wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anyone using a lift truck should undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck 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 attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps often happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators have to know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular needs of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents can be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.