Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training course should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you would be utilizing on the job location. Training must also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic qualifications for operating a forklift 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 forklift driver should be the safety of pedestrians. 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 always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps often 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 danger and operators need to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification courses consist of a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training should be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents are preventable with proper operator training and attention to safety.