Lift truck Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to receive forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anyone utilizing a lift truck must undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for driving a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents frequently take place on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers must know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with attention to safety and proper operator training.