Forklift Truck Training
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators should undergo both certification and training. Basic credentials for driving a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical capacity to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps frequently happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions could lead to a danger and operators must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers include both classroom instruction and practical training that could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year roughly 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and proper operator training.