Forklift Truck Training
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to receive forklift operator certification. The training must be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you will be utilizing on the job location. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anyone using a lift truck should undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any forklift operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents frequently occur on loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions can lead to a danger and operators must be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year about 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. The majority of these accidents can be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.