Lift truck Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to receive forklift driver certification. The training must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the setting in which you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anyone using a lift truck must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents often take place on loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and operators should know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Nearly all of these accidents can be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.