Lift truck Truck Training
To receive certification as a lift truck operator, you have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the environment in which you would be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers must undergo training and certification. Basic credentials for operating a forklift 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 driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Many mishaps involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators must know possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift drivers include both classroom instruction and practical training that could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Each year about 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents can be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.