Lift truck Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training must be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you will be utilizing on the job site. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anybody operating a forklift must undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for driving a lift truck include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of 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 forklift drivers should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps usually take place on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can result in a hazard and drivers should be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents are avoidable with attention to safety and proper operator training.