Lift truck Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training should be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you would be using on the job. Training must also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators must undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could result in a hazard and operators should know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training should be completed on the forklift type and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Each year approximately 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. The majority of these accidents could be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.