Forklift Truck Training Course
To receive certification as a lift truck operator, you should 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 will be utilizing on the job. Training must also reflect the environment wherein you will be working. Forklift safety should be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators should undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for driving a forklift include an age of at least 18 years and the physical ability to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any forklift driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Lift truck accidents frequently happen on loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor very slippery. Wet floor conditions could result in a danger and operators should 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 needs of the workplace. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments which would be used 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 lift trucks. The majority of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.