Forklift Truck Training
To receive certification as a forklift operator, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training program must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job location. Training must also reflect the environment in which you would be working. Forklift safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anybody operating a lift truck should undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for driving a lift truck include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Numerous accidents involving lift trucks occur at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor extremely slippery. Wet floor conditions can result in a hazard and operators have to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs consist of a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year approximately 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with proper operator training and attention to safety.