Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty machinery found in almost every factory and warehouse. These reliable and tough machinery could raise and move heavy things that are not able to lift by hand. There is some specific training complete so as to be able to use a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it could be dangerous if not handled correctly, hence, the driver's skills are very important.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator needs to have good judgment so as to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the height and width of the load in order to ensure that it will fit in a 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 machinery in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Necessary lift truck skills skills consist of excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For instance, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver has to be able to quickly respond and try to fix the issue. In order to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these equipment.
Adaptability
Depending upon the job, among the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending upon each task, this could change on a continuous basis. Some forklift tasks require operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous equipment, odors, loud noises or fumes. Work atmospheres and warehouses could be busy places. The driver of the forklift should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Furthermore, a lot of forklift tasks require being outdoors to move things or unload goods; thus, the driver should be prepared at the likelihood of working in bad weather conditions.
Machine Maintenance
Forklift drivers need to understand how heavy mobile machine works and need to be able and willing to follow instructions. Drivers have to 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.
Forklift truck operators need to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not functioning properly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machine problems.