Lift truck Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the forklift attachments and type which you will be using on the job location. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers must undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for driving a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Many accidents involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor extremely slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators must be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift drivers include both classroom instruction and practical training that can be tailored for the specific needs of each work environment. Training should be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year roughly 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Nearly all of these accidents can be prevented with attention to safety and proper operator training.