Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A powered industrial truck or a forklift is a piece of heavy equipment found in factories and in warehouses. They are utilized to transport and move bulk things that are too heavy to carry or lift by hand. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to safely use a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. As the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it can be dangerous if not properly handled, therefore, the operator's skills are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver has to have good judgment so as to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the load in order to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is important to have proper judgement to be able to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Driver skills that come in handy are good hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For instance, if a stack of objects in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the driver has to be able to quickly respond and try to solve the issue. To be able to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is required when operating and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Depending on the job, among the top skills of a forklift operator is to be able to adapt to their specific work environment. Depending on every job, this could change on a continuous basis. Some forklift jobs require operators to be exposed to harmful materials, dangerous machines, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work atmospheres and warehouses can be busy places. The lift truck operator must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety in general. Furthermore, numerous forklift tasks require being outdoors to transport things or unload goods; hence, the operator has to be ready at the possibility of working in bad weather conditions.
Equipment Maintenance
Operators should be able to follow directions and understand how heavy equipment works. Operators should learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and could guarantee that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
Forklift truck operators need to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and have to know when something is not functioning properly. An essential part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about equipment problems.