Forklift Truck Training Course
To be given certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job location. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators must undergo certification and training. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include an age minimum of 18 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 lift truck driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers must know possible 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 particular needs of each work setting. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents are preventable with proper operator training and attention to safety.