Forklift Truck Training Program
In order to receive certification as a lift truck driver, you need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift. The training program should be specific to the lift truck type and attachments which you will be using on the job. Training should also reflect the setting in which you will be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the trainer and the operator trainee.
General Credentials
Prior to assuming any operator duties, all lift truck operators should undergo certification and training. Basic qualifications for utilizing a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to safely operate and control the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any forklift driver. Pedestrians near the lift truck are at risk of injury or death from getting hit by the machine or its additions. Pedestrians must always have the right of way, and forklift operators must honk their horns when working at crosswalks or intersections or near pedestrians.
Weather Conditions
Lots of mishaps involving forklifts take place at loading docks. These places become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors causing a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can lead to a danger and drivers should be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification programs for lift truck drivers consist of both practical training and classroom instruction which can be tailored for the specific needs of each work setting. Training must be completed on the type of forklift and attachments that would be used by the trainee in the workplace.
Accidents
On average, there is about 100 deaths attributed to forklift mishaps, while over 100,000 are injured by lift trucks. Most of these accidents are avoidable with correct operator training and attention to safety.