Lift truck Truck Training
To be given certification as a forklift driver, you have to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you would be using on the job location. Training must also reflect the environment in which you would be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anybody using a lift truck must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps frequently occur on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and drivers must be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular needs of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year around 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. The majority of these accidents can be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.