Forklift Truck Training
To receive certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators should undergo certification and training. Basic credentials for utilizing a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents often take place on 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 must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction 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.
Accidents
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Most of these accidents are preventable with correct operator training and attention to safety.