Forklift Truck Training Program
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to receive forklift driver certification. The training course should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you would be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting in which you would be working. Lift truck safety must be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody utilizing a lift truck must undergo both training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for utilizing a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical capacity to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents often occur on loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can lead to a hazard and drivers must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for forklift operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction that could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.