Lift truck Truck Training Program
In order to receive certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training course should be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you would be using on the job site. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anyone operating a forklift should undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck driver must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents usually occur on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors resulting in a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators need to know possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training should be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments which will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Each year about 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and correct operator training.