Lift truck Truck Training Program
In order to receive certification as a forklift driver, you have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anyone using a lift truck should undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift drivers should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps often take place on loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers should be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators include both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular needs of each work environment. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents could be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.