Forklift Truck Training
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to receive forklift driver certification. The training course must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers should undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for operating a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck 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 machine 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
Lots of accidents involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators should be aware of possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction which could be tailored for the particular needs of each work setting. Training should be undertaken on the type of forklift and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Most of these accidents can be avoided with attention to safety and proper operator training.