Lift truck Truck Training
To receive certification as a forklift operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the setting in which you would be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers must undergo training and certification. Basic credentials for using a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
A lot of mishaps involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions can lead to a danger and operators should be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses consist of a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year around 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. The majority of these accidents are preventable with correct operator training and attention to safety.