Forklift Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck 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 making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators have to know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers consist of both classroom instruction and practical training which could be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the type of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year about 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents can be avoided with attention to safety and proper operator training.