Forklift Truck Training
To receive certification as a lift truck driver, you need 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 would be utilizing on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anyone utilizing a lift truck should undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a lift truck include an age minimum of 18 years and the physical capacity to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any forklift driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps usually happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor extremely slippery. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators should know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Each year around 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Most of these accidents are avoidable with attention to safety and proper operator training.