Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy machinery found in factories and in warehouses. They are used to move and transport bulk things that are too heavy to carry or lift manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to operate a forklift safely. Nearly all employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it can be dangerous if not correctly handled, therefore, the skills of the operator are very important.
Good Judgment
In order to estimate how much a load weighs, the forklift operator needs to have good judgement, able to judge both the height and weight of the cargo. Knowing the particulars would help to ensure that both the forklift and load will fit it designed area. It is vital to have proper judgement to be able to negotiate tight turns and move the forklift around obstacles in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Required forklift skills skills include excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For instance, if a stack of things in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the driver must be able to quickly respond and try to solve the issue. In order to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these equipment.
Adaptability
Depending upon the task, among the top skills of a forklift operator is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending upon each job, this could change on a continuous basis. Some forklift jobs need drivers to be exposed to harmful materials, dangerous machinery, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work surroundings and warehouses could be busy places. The operator of the forklift must be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety overall. Additionally, numerous forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload supplies or move items; therefore, the operator has to be ready at the likelihood of working in poor weather conditions.
Equipment Maintenance
Forklift operators have to understand how heavy mobile equipment works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators should learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and be able to ensure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the brakes and the forks, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
The operator of the lift truck must also be able to properly maintain the forklift and have to know when something is not working correctly. An essential part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machinery issues.