Lift truck Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you would be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anyone utilizing a forklift must undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for driving a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator should 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 should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Many accidents involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can lead to a hazard and operators need to know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction which could be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Nearly all of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and proper operator training.