Lift truck Truck Training Program
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be using on the job location. Training should also reflect the environment in which you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anyone operating a lift truck must undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for utilizing a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents often occur on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers need to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers include both classroom instruction and practical training that can be tailored for the particular requirements of each work environment. Training should be undertaken on the kind of forklift and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year approximately 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.