Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty equipment found in almost every warehouse and factory. These tough and reliable machines can raise and transport heavy items that are not able to lift manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to utilize a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Since the forklift is a heavy piece of machine it could be dangerous if not correctly handled, hence, the skills of the operator are very important.
Good Judgment
In order to estimate the weight of a load, the forklift operator has to have good judgement, able to judge both the height and weight of the cargo. Knowing the particulars will help to ensure that the forklift and load would fit it designed area. It is really important to have proper judgement to be able to negotiate tight turns and move the forklift around obstacles in order to be able to competently drive the machinery in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Required lift truck skills skills include quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. Like for instance, if a stack of objects in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator must be able to quickly respond and try to fix the problem. In order to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is required when utilizing and working near these machinery.
Adaptability
Depending on the job, among the top skills of a forklift operator is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending upon every job, this may change on a continuous basis. Some forklift jobs require operators to be exposed to dangerous machines, harmful materials, loud noises, fumes or odors. Warehouses and work atmosphere can be very busy places. The operator of the forklift must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head in general. Furthermore, numerous forklift jobs require being outdoors to move things or unload goods; thus, the operator should be prepared at the likelihood of working in bad weather conditions.
Machine Maintenance
Drivers should be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy machine works. Drivers should learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and be able to ensure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are working at an optimal level.
Forklift truck operators need to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and have to know when something is not working properly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain machinery issues to mechanics.