Lift truck Truck Training Course
To receive certification as a forklift driver, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be utilizing on the job. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers must undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include an age minimum of 18 years and the physical capacity to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a top concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps often occur on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and operators should be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck operators consist of both classroom instruction and practical training that could be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training should be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year approximately 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with correct operator training and attention to safety.