Lift truck Truck Training Course
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to receive forklift driver certification. The training program should be specific to the forklift type and attachments that you will be using on the job. Training must also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Anybody utilizing a forklift must undergo both training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for driving a lift truck include being at least 18 years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians must be a main concern of any forklift operator. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck mishaps usually happen on loading docks. These areas become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions create a hazard and drivers must know potential dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs include a combination of classroom instruction and practical training tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training should be completed on the kind of forklift and attachments that would be utilized by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
Every year approximately 100 individuals die in forklift mishaps. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Nearly all of these accidents can be prevented with attention to safety and correct operator training.