Forklift Truck Training
Operators must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to be given forklift operator certification. The training course must be specific to the forklift type and attachments which you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the environment in which you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anybody utilizing a forklift must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials 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 safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery 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
Forklift accidents usually take place on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators need to know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction which can be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year approximately 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Nearly all of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.