Lift truck Truck Training
In order to be given certification as a lift truck driver, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody utilizing a lift truck should undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include an age of at least eighteen years and the physical ability to safely operate and control 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 machinery or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents frequently happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and drivers should be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction that can be tailored for the particular needs of each work setting. Training should be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year about 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. The majority of these accidents could be avoided with correct operator training and attention to safety.