Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A powered industrial truck or a forklift is a piece of heavy machinery found in factories and in warehouses. They are used to move and transport bulk things which are very heavy to carry or lift manually. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to safely use a forklift. Nearly all employers prefer a degree in high school. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it can be dangerous if not correctly handled, hence, 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 need to be able to judge the height and width of the load in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is essential 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 equipment in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Required forklift operator skills consist of excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. Like for example, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver needs to be able to quickly respond and try to solve the issue. To be able to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is required when using and working near these machinery.
Adaptability
Among the top skills of a lift truck operator is that they need to be adaptable to the work setting. This could be continually changing depending on the job. Several forklift tasks need drivers to be exposed to dangerous machines, harmful materials, fumes, odors or loud noises. 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. Additionally, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload supplies or move things; hence, the operator should be ready at the likelihood of working in poor climate.
Equipment Maintenance
Forklift operators need to understand how heavy mobile machinery works and have to be able and willing to follow instructions. Operators must learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and be able to guarantee that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are working at an optimal level.
The operator of the lift truck must also be able to correctly maintain the forklift and need to know when something is not working properly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain machine issues to mechanics.