Forklift Truck Training
To receive certification as a forklift driver, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course should be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you would be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anyone using a lift truck must undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for utilizing a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lots of accidents involving lift trucks happen at loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions could lead to a danger and operators must be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year roughly 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with proper operator training and attention to safety.