Lift truck Truck Training
In order to be given certification as a forklift driver, you have to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training course must be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you would be utilizing on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators should undergo both training and certification. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Numerous accidents involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could result in a hazard and drivers should be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and correct operator training.