Lift truck Truck Training Program
Operators should undergo training on an industrial-powered forklift, or lift truck to be given forklift operator certification. The training program must be specific to the forklift attachments and type that you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety should be a top priority for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all forklift operators must undergo both certification and training. Basic credentials for utilizing a lift truck include an age minimum of eighteen years and the physical ability to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The main concern of any lift truck operator should be the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machine or its attachments. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators should honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Numerous accidents involving forklifts occur at loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions create a danger and drivers must know potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck operators consist of both practical training and classroom instruction which could be tailored for the particular needs of each work environment. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Mishaps
On average, there is roughly 100 deaths attributed to forklift accidents, while more than 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. The majority of these accidents are preventable with correct operator training and attention to safety.