Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy equipment found in warehouses and in factories. They are used to transport and move bulk items that are very heavy to carry or lift by hand. There is some particular training complete so as to be able to safely use a forklift. Nearly all employers prefer a high school degree. Since the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it could be dangerous if not properly handled, hence, the skills of the driver are very important.
Good Judgment
To be able to estimate how much a load weighs, the forklift driver has to have good judgement, able to judge both the weight and height of the load. Knowing the particulars will help to ensure that both the load and forklift will fit it designed area. It is vital to have good judgement to be able to negotiate tight turns and move the forklift around obstacles in order to be able to capably drive the machinery in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Driver skills which come in handy are quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. Like for example, if a stack of things in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to respond quickly and try to rectify the problem. To be able to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is required when using and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Among the top skills of a lift truck driver is that they need to be adaptable to the work setting. This can be continually changing depending on the job. Several forklift tasks need operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machinery, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work surroundings and warehouses could be very busy places. The operator of the forklift must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety overall. In addition, many forklift tasks require being outdoors to unload supplies or transport items; hence, the driver needs to be prepared at the possibility of working in bad weather conditions.
Machine Maintenance
Forklift operators need to understand how heavy mobile machinery works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Drivers must learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and could make certain that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
The operator of the lift truck must also be able to properly maintain the lift truck and have to know when something is not working properly. An essential part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain machinery problems to mechanics.