Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Operator
The forklift or powered industrial truck is a heavy duty equipment found in almost every warehouse and factory. These tough and reliable machines could lift and transport heavy items that are not able to lift by hand. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to utilize a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Since the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it can be dangerous if not correctly handled, thus, the operator's skills are extremely important.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator needs to have good judgment to be able to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo so as to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is very essential to have proper judgement to be able to move the lift truck around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to competently drive the machinery in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Driver skills which come in handy are good hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. Like for instance, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the operator has to be able to quickly respond and try to rectify the issue. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is needed when using and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is that they have to be adaptable to the work surroundings. This could be continually changing depending on the task. Some forklift tasks require drivers to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machinery, loud noises, fumes or odors. Work atmospheres and warehouses can be very busy places. The lift truck driver should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Moreover, numerous forklift jobs require being outdoors to transport things or unload merchandise; thus, the driver has to be ready at the possibility of working in poor climate.
Machinery Maintenance
Forklift drivers have to understand how heavy mobile equipment works and need to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators need to learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and be able to make certain that the horn, the lights, the steering, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
The driver of the forklift must also be able to correctly maintain the lift truck and have to know when something is not working properly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machine problems.