Forklift Truck Training Program
Operators have to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to be given forklift driver certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers should undergo both certification and training. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift drivers must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lots of accidents involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers need to be aware of possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Forklift certification programs include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments which would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year around 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.