Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Operator
A powered industrial truck or a forklift is a piece of heavy equipment found in factories and in warehouses. They are used to transport and move bulk items that are too heavy to lift or carry manually. There is some specific training complete so as to be able to use a forklift safely. Nearly all employers prefer a degree in high school. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it could be dangerous if not properly handled, thus, the skills of the operator are very important.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment so as to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the height and width of the cargo in order to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is important to have good judgement in order to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to competently drive the machine in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Driver skills that come in handy are quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. Like for example, if a stack of objects in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator must be able to quickly respond and try to fix the issue. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these machinery.
Adaptability
One of the top skills of a forklift driver is that they have to be adaptable to the work surroundings. This could be continually changing depending on the job. Some forklift jobs need drivers to be exposed to dangerous machinery, damaging materials, loud noises, fumes or odors. Warehouses and work surroundings could be busy places. The forklift operator must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety overall. Furthermore, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload supplies or move items; hence, the operator must be ready at the likelihood of working in poor weather.
Machine Maintenance
Forklift operators have to understand how heavy mobile machine works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators should learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and can guarantee that the horn, the lights, the steering, the brakes and the forks, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
The driver of the forklift must also be able to properly maintain the forklift and need to know when something is not functioning properly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machinery issues.