Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to operate and control 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 death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps usually happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor extremely slippery. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and operators must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction which could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work environment. Training should be completed on the forklift type and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.