Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty machinery found in practically every factory and warehouse. These tough and reliable machinery could raise and transport heavy items that are not able to raise manually. There is some particular training complete so as to be able to safely use a forklift. Nearly all employers prefer a high school degree. As the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it can be dangerous if not properly handled, therefore, the driver's skills are very important.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment so as to estimate how much a load weighs. They have to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo so as to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is really vital to have proper judgement to be able to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the machine in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Required forklift operator skills consist of excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For example, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver has to be able to respond quickly and try to fix the issue. To be able to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these equipment.
Adaptability
Depending upon the task, among the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work environment. Depending on each task, this can change on a continuous basis. Several forklift tasks require operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous equipment, fumes, odors or loud noises. Warehouses and work atmosphere can be busy places. The driver of the forklift must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety overall. In addition, many forklift tasks require being outdoors to unload goods or transport items; therefore, the driver must be ready at the possibility of working in bad weather conditions.
Machinery Maintenance
Drivers should be able to follow directions and understand how heavy equipment works. Operators need to learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and can ensure that the steering, the horn, the lights, the forks and the brakes, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers have to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not functioning correctly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain machinery problems to mechanics.