Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty machinery found in practically every warehouse and factory. These reliable and tough machinery can raise and move heavy things which are not able to lift manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely operate a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it could be dangerous if not handled correctly, thus, the driver's skills are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator needs to have good judgment so as to estimate how much a load weighs. They have to be able to judge the height and width of the cargo in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is important to have proper judgement to be able to move the lift truck around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Necessary forklift skills skills consist of quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. Like for example, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver must be able to quickly respond and try to fix the problem. To be able to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is needed when using and working near these equipment.
Adaptability
Amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is that they need to be adaptable to the work environment. This can be continually changing depending on the task. Some forklift tasks require drivers to be exposed to dangerous machinery, harmful materials, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work atmospheres and warehouses could be very busy places. The forklift operator must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. In addition, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to move things or unload goods; therefore, the driver has to be prepared at the likelihood of working in poor weather conditions.
Machinery Maintenance
Forklift operators have to understand how heavy mobile equipment works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Drivers need to learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and be able to make sure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
The operator of the lift truck should also be able to properly maintain the lift truck and need to know when something is not working properly. An essential part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain machinery issues to mechanics.