Lift truck Truck Training
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you will be utilizing on the job location. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anybody using a forklift should undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Many accidents involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular needs of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and correct operator training.