Forklift Truck Training
In order to receive certification as a lift truck driver, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job site. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anybody operating a forklift must undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents usually take place on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers have to be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers consist of both classroom instruction and practical training which could be tailored for the particular requirements of each work setting. Training must be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents can be prevented with attention to safety and proper operator training.