Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Operator
The forklift or powered industrial truck is a heavy duty machine found in practically every warehouse and factory. These tough and reliable machines could raise and transport heavy things that are not able to lift manually. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to operate a forklift safely. Nearly all employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it could be dangerous if not handled properly, thus, the skills of the driver are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator has 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 load in order to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is very important to have good 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
Driver skills that come in handy are good hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For example, if a stack of objects in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to respond quickly and try to fix the issue. In order to avoid mishaps, a high level of concentration is needed when operating and working near these machines.
Adaptability
Among the top skills of a forklift operator is that they need to be adaptable to the work environment. This could be continually changing depending on the task. Several forklift tasks need operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machinery, odors, loud noises or fumes. Warehouses and work surroundings could be busy places. The operator of the forklift must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety in general. Moreover, numerous forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload merchandise or transport things; hence, the driver needs to be ready at the likelihood of working in poor weather.
Equipment Maintenance
Drivers must be able to follow directions and understand how heavy equipment works. Operators should learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and can ensure that the lights, the steering, the horn, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
The driver of the forklift must also be able to correctly maintain the lift truck and need to know when something is not working correctly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about equipment problems.