Lift truck Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training course must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be using on the job location. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody utilizing a forklift should undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include an age of at least 18 years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps usually happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators must be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that can be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training should be completed on the type of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.