Forklift Truck Training Program
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training program should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be utilizing on the job location. Training should also reflect the atmosphere in which you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern 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 qualifications for using a lift truck include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps frequently take place on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and operators must know possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers include both practical training and classroom instruction that can be tailored for the specific requirements of each work setting. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Nearly all of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.