Duties of a Forklift Operator
The most common area for forklift drivers to be employed are in warehouses and factories. Their tasks would comprise the lifting and transporting of materials and goods from one place to another. They need to be trained to safely utilized the lift truck controls. Specialized training is a requirement. Drivers must pass a drug test and have a background check.
Performing Inspections
OSHA and HRSDC both require forklift drivers to carry out daily and pre-shift inspections. Lift truck driver training should comprise the proper performance of safety inspections to assure optimum functionality. An inspection must also be done at the end of each shift. Regular safety training must be undertaken every year.
Unloading and Loading
Forklift drivers perform tasks related to unloading and loading supplies in a timely and safe method. This job also includes the organized stacking of supplies so they are accessible.
Weighing Materials
Weighing the supplies that are to be moved can be part of the lift truck driver's responsibilities.
Quality Control
The operator of the lift truck would be in charge of quality control. They should make sure orders are accurate and that products do not sustain damage during transportation in the warehouse.
Safety Awareness
Lift truck drivers should have great skills in both attention and awareness. Operators have to be very concerned with the safety of both personnel and pedestrians. The driver must find the safest way to handle challenges, such as navigating a steep surface with a cargo. The operator would have to determine the safest route to take. An operator's training would include learning about the elements which might cause a lift truck to tip over. The driver needs to be very familiar with the design and safety ratings of the forklift unit which they are operating. A lift truck driver needs to be sensitive to the need for breaks to avoid fatigue. Mishaps connected to forklifts are more likely to happen when a driver is exhausted.