Forklift Truck Training
In order to be given certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training should be specific to the forklift attachments and type which you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators should undergo training and certification. Basic qualifications for driving a lift truck include an age minimum of 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 death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents often happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can lead to a danger and drivers need to be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which will be utilized 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. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and proper operator training.