Forklift Truck Training
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to receive forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you will be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators should undergo both training and certification. Basic qualifications for operating a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents often take place on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers need to be aware of possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction which can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents could be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.