Lift truck Truck Training Program
To receive certification as a lift truck operator, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the atmosphere wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators must undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years 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 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 forklift operators should honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents frequently happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could result in a hazard and drivers need to know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification courses include a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular requirements of the workplace. Training should be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by forklifts. The majority of these accidents could be prevented with correct operator training and attention to safety.