Forklift Truck Training Program
In order to be given certification as a lift truck operator, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you would be using on the job. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo both training and certification. Basic qualifications for operating a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Many accidents involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor extremely slippery. Wet floor conditions could result in a danger and operators have to be aware of potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification courses 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 will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.