Lift truck Truck Training
In order 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 forklift type and attachments which you would be using on the job location. Training should also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody using a forklift must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift drivers should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers should know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction 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
Every year about 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. The majority of these accidents are preventable with correct operator training and attention to safety.