Forklift Truck Training Course
Operators need 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 forklift type and attachments which you would be utilizing on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers should undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for driving a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any forklift operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could result in a danger and operators need to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift operators include both practical training and classroom instruction that can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the type of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year about 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with proper operator training and attention to safety.