Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to receive forklift driver certification. The training program should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you would be using on the job site. Training must also reflect the atmosphere in which you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody using a lift truck should undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a top concern of any forklift driver. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps often happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators should know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year around 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents could be prevented with attention to safety and proper operator training.