Lift truck Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck in order to receive forklift driver certification. The training course must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo training and certification. Basic credentials for driving a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps often happen on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers should be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift drivers consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work environment. Training should be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year about 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Most of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.