Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A powered industrial truck or a forklift is a piece of heavy equipment found in warehouses and in factories. They are used to transport and move bulk things that are too heavy to lift or carry manually. There is some specific training complete so as to be able to use a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it could be dangerous if not correctly handled, hence, the skills of the driver are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator needs to have good judgment in order to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo so as to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is important to have good judgement in order to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Necessary forklift operator skills consist of quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. For example, if a stack of things in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to quickly respond and try to fix the problem. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is required when utilizing and working near these equipment.
Adaptability
Depending upon the job, one of the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work setting. Depending upon every task, this could change on a continuous basis. Several forklift jobs require drivers to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machinery, odors, loud noises or fumes. Work atmospheres and warehouses could be busy places. The driver of the forklift must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Moreover, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload merchandise or transport things; thus, the operator must be prepared at the likelihood of working in bad climate.
Equipment Maintenance
Drivers must be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy machine works. Drivers should learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and be able to guarantee that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers have to also understand how to properly maintain the vehicles and have to know when something is not functioning properly. An essential part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain equipment problems to mechanics.