Lift truck Truck Training
Operators must 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 would be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the environment wherein you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anybody operating a lift truck should undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps usually occur on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and operators should know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction which can be tailored for the particular needs of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year roughly 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. The majority of these accidents could be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.