Forklift Truck Training Program
Operators need to undergo training on an industrial-powered lift truck, or forklift in order to receive forklift operator certification. The training should be specific to the lift truck attachments and type that you will be using on the job location. Training must also reflect the setting wherein you would be working. Forklift safety must be a main concern for both the operator trainee and the trainer.
General Credentials
Before assuming any operator duties, all forklift drivers should undergo training and certification. Basic credentials for using a forklift include being at least eighteen years old and the physical capacity to safely control and operate the unit.
Pedestrian Safety
The safety of pedestrians should be a main concern of any lift truck driver. Pedestrians in the vicinity of the lift truck are at risk of death or injury from getting hit by the machinery or its additions. Pedestrians should always have the right of way, and lift truck drivers must honk their horns when working near pedestrians or at intersections or crosswalks.
Weather Conditions
Forklift accidents usually happen on loading docks. These areas become hazardous if rain leaks in through open dock doors leading to a very slippery floor. Wet floor conditions can result in a danger and operators must be aware of potential hazards when working in loading dock areas.
Certification
Certification courses for lift truck drivers include both classroom instruction and practical training that could be tailored for the specific needs of each work environment. Training must be undertaken on the forklift type and attachments that 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 could be prevented with attention to safety and correct operator training.