Lift truck Truck Training
Operators have to 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 lift truck attachments and type that you would be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the setting in which you would be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Anybody using a lift truck should undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any forklift driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lots of accidents involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers should be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both classroom instruction and practical training which could be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training must be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. The majority of these accidents can be prevented with attention to safety and proper operator training.