Forklift Truck Training Course
In order to be given certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training course must be specific to the forklift attachments and type which you would be using on the job site. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers should undergo both certification and training. Basic qualifications for using a forklift include being at least 18 years old and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any forklift operator must be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps often happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators should know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Each year approximately 100 people die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each and every year. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with proper operator training and attention to safety.