Lift truck Truck Training Program
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you must undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training program should be specific to the forklift attachments and type which you will be using on the job location. Training should also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Qualifications
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators must undergo both training and certification. Basic credentials for operating a forklift include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any lift truck operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck 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 intersections or crosswalks or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents often happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could lead to a danger and drivers need to know 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 requirements of the workplace. Training should be undertaken on the type of forklift and attachments which would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year approximately 100 individuals die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported each year. Most of these accidents could be avoided with proper operator training and attention to safety.