Lift truck Truck Training Course
In order to receive certification as a forklift driver, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you would be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators should undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for using a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical capacity to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Many mishaps involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training should be undertaken on the type of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Nearly all of these accidents can be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.