Lift truck Truck Training
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift operator certification. The training program must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be using on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anyone using a lift truck must undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for utilizing a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and drivers should know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification courses include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training should be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Nearly all of these accidents can be prevented with proper operator training and attention to safety.