Forklift Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to be given forklift driver certification. 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 wherein you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anybody operating a lift truck should undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator should 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 attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents usually happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers should know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training should be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year roughly 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. The majority of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.