Lift truck Truck Training Course
To receive certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Qualifications
Anybody using a forklift must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for using a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to operate and control the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any lift truck operator. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents frequently occur on loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to an extremely slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and operators have to be aware of possible 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 particular requirements of the workplace. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that will be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year about 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with attention to safety and correct operator training.