Forklift Truck Training Program
To be given certification as a forklift operator, you should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck. The training must be specific to the lift truck type and attachments that you would be using on the job. Training must also reflect the environment in which you will be working. Lift truck safety should be a top priority for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Anyone operating a lift truck should undergo training and certification prior to assuming operator duties. Basic credentials for operating a lift truck include an age of at least eighteen years and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The top concern of any forklift operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the forklift are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the equipment or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and lift truck operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Many mishaps involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors making the floor really slippery. Wet floor conditions could lead to a hazard and drivers must know possible hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Lift truck certification programs consist of a combination of practical training and classroom instruction tailored to the particular needs of the workplace. Training must be completed on the forklift type and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is around 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents could be avoided with attention to safety and correct operator training.