Forklift Truck Training
To receive certification as a lift truck driver, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers should undergo certification and training. Basic credentials for utilizing a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators should honk their horns when working at intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
A lot of accidents involving lift trucks occur at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators have to be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for forklift drivers consist of both classroom instruction and practical training which could be tailored for the specific requirements of each work environment. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.