Lift truck Truck Training Course
In order to receive certification as a forklift driver, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course should be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you will be using on the job site. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for utilizing a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lots of mishaps involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators have to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training should be completed on the forklift type and attachments that will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year roughly 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Most of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and correct operator training.