Lift truck Truck Training
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job location. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators should undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for utilizing 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 in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents frequently happen on loading docks. These areas 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 courses for lift truck operators consist of both classroom instruction and practical training that could be tailored for the particular needs of each work environment. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year around 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. The majority of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.