Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you would be using on the job site. Training should also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include an age of at least eighteen years and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps frequently occur on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers must be aware of possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both classroom instruction and practical training that can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with proper operator training and attention to safety.