Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to receive forklift driver certification. The training course must be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you will be using on the job site. Training should also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo training and certification. Basic qualifications for using a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
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 machine or its additions. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
A lot of mishaps involving lift trucks take place at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators should know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. The majority of these accidents can be prevented with attention to safety and proper operator training.