Lift truck Truck Training
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the environment wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo training and certification. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of mishaps involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and operators need to be aware of possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year roughly 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Nearly all of these accidents can be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.