Forklift Truck Training Program
To be given certification as a lift truck driver, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job location. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers should undergo training and certification. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include an age of at least 18 years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near 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 lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps frequently happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators must be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction which can be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
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 attention to safety and correct operator training.