Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The forklift or powered industrial truck is a heavy duty machinery found in almost every factory and warehouse. These tough and reliable equipment can lift and transport heavy items that are not able to lift by hand. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely use a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Since the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it could be dangerous if not correctly handled, therefore, the skills of the driver are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment in order to estimate how much a load weighs. They have to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is important to have proper judgement in order to move the lift truck around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to competently drive the machine in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Necessary forklift operator 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 should be able to respond quickly and try to rectify the issue. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is necessary when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these equipment.
Adaptability
Depending on the task, amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work environment. Depending upon each job, this could change on a continuous basis. Several forklift jobs require operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machinery, odors, loud noises or fumes. Warehouses and work atmosphere could be busy places. The operator of the forklift should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Furthermore, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to transport things or unload merchandise; thus, the driver has to be ready at the possibility of working in bad weather conditions.
Equipment Maintenance
Operators should be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy equipment works. Operators must learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and be able to guarantee that the steering, the horn, the lights, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are functioning at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers have to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not working correctly. An essential part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain machinery problems to mechanics.