Lift truck Truck Training
In order to receive certification as a lift truck operator, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the setting in which you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators should undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for driving a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck operator must 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 additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can lead to a hazard and drivers need to be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Nearly all of these accidents could be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.