Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Operator
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy equipment found in factories and in warehouses. They are used to move and transport bulk things that are very heavy to carry or lift manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely utilize a forklift. Most employers prefer a degree in high school. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it can be dangerous if not properly handled, therefore, the driver's skills are extremely important.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment in order to estimate how much a load weighs. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo so as to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is essential to have proper judgement to be able to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the machine in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Necessary lift truck skills skills consist of excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. Like for example, if a stack of items in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver should be able to respond quickly and try to fix the problem. To be able to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is needed when operating and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Depending on the task, among the top skills of a forklift operator is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending on each task, this can change on a continuous basis. Several forklift tasks require operators to be exposed to dangerous machinery, damaging materials, loud noises, fumes or odors. Work surroundings and warehouses can be very busy places. The forklift driver must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety in general. Additionally, numerous forklift tasks require being outdoors to transport things or unload merchandise; thus, the operator should be prepared at the possibility of working in bad weather.
Machinery Maintenance
Forklift drivers need to understand how heavy mobile machinery works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators must learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and could make sure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the forks and the brakes, along with other components are functioning at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers have to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not working correctly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machinery issues.