Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty machine found in practically every factory and warehouse. These reliable and tough equipment could lift and move heavy items that are not able to lift manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely operate a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it could be dangerous if not handled correctly, thus, the skills of the operator are extremely important.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment so as to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is essential to have good judgement in order to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the machine in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Driver skills which come in handy are quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. For example, if a stack of objects in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator needs to be able to respond quickly and try to fix the issue. To be able to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these equipment.
Adaptability
Amongst the top skills of a lift truck driver is that they have to be adaptable to the work setting. This can be continually changing depending on the job. Some forklift tasks need operators to be exposed to dangerous machines, damaging materials, fumes, odors or loud noises. Warehouses and work atmosphere could be busy places. The forklift operator should be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety overall. Additionally, many forklift tasks require being outdoors to move items or unload goods; hence, the operator should be prepared at the possibility of working in poor weather conditions.
Equipment Maintenance
Forklift drivers need to understand how heavy mobile machinery works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators should learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and could make sure that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
The operator of the forklift must also be able to correctly maintain the lift truck and have to know when something is not working properly. An essential part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machine problems.