Duties of a Forklift Driver
The most common area for lift truck operators to be employed are in factories and warehouses. Their tasks will include the lifting and transporting of supplies and loads from one place to another. They have to be taught to utilized the lift truck controls safely. Specialized training is a prerequisite. Operators must pass a drug test and have a background check.
Performing Checks
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that all forklift operators carry out a daily pre-shift lift truck inspection. Forklift driver training must comprise the proper performance of safety inspections to assure optimum functionality. An inspection must also be done at the end of every shift. Regular safety training must be undertaken each and every year.
Loading and Unloading
Forklift drivers perform tasks related to unloading and loading supplies in a safe and timely way. This responsibility also involves the organized stacking of goods so they are accessible.
Weighing Supplies
The duties of a lift truck operator can include weighing the materials which are being moved and recording the weights.
Quality Control
The driver of the forklift will be in charge of quality control. They need to make certain that products do not sustain damage during transportation in the warehouse and orders are correct.
Safety Awareness
Lift truck operators should have great skills in both awareness and attention. Operators need to be highly concerned with the safety of both personnel and pedestrians. The driver should find the safest way to handle difficulties, like navigating a steep surface with a cargo. The operator should determine the safest route to take. An operator's training will involve learning about the forces that may cause a lift truck to tip over. The operator must be really familiar with the safety ratings and design of the lift truck unit that they are utilizing. A forklift operator should be sensitive to the need for breaks to avoid fatigue. Mishaps associated to forklifts are more likely to happen when an operator is tired.