Forklift Truck Training
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck in order to receive forklift driver certification. The training course must be specific to the forklift attachments and type which you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the environment wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should 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 training and certification. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any forklift driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
A lot of mishaps involving lift trucks occur at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and drivers must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year roughly 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Nearly all of these accidents could be prevented with attention to safety and correct operator training.