Forklift Truck Training Course
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training must be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you would be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck drivers should undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include an age of at least eighteen years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Forklift mishaps often take place on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers have to be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses consist of a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. Training should be completed on the forklift type and attachments which will be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is approximately 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and proper operator training.