Forklift Truck Training
In order to receive certification as a forklift driver, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you will be using on the job location. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anyone operating a forklift should undergo 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 control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers 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 dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and drivers must be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with attention to safety and proper operator training.