Forklift Truck Training Program
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift to be given forklift operator certification. The training must be specific to the lift truck attachments and type which you would be utilizing on the job site. Training should also reflect the environment wherein you will be working. Forklift safety must be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anybody using a forklift must undergo training and certification before assuming operator duties. Basic qualifications for operating a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical ability to control and operate the unit safely.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck driver should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at crosswalks or intersections.
Weather Conditions
Lots of accidents involving forklifts happen at loading docks. These places become dangerous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions could result in a hazard and drivers should be aware of possible dangers when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the specific requirements of the workplace. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
Every year roughly 100 people die in forklift accidents. There are 100,000 forklift injuries reported every year. Nearly all of these accidents are preventable with attention to safety and proper operator training.