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 transport and move bulk items which are too heavy to lift or carry manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely use a forklift. Most employers prefer a degree in high school. As the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it can be dangerous if not handled properly, therefore, the skills of the driver are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator has to have good judgment to be able to estimate how much a load weighs. They need to be able to judge the height and width of the load so as to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is very vital to have good judgement to be able to negotiate tight turns and move the forklift around obstacles in order to be able to competently drive the machine in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Operator skills that come in handy are quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. Like for instance, if a stack of things in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator must be able to quickly respond and try to fix the issue. To be able to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is necessary when operating and working near these machines.
Adaptability
Amongst the top skills of a lift truck driver is that they have to be adaptable to the work surroundings. This can be continually changing depending on the task. Several forklift tasks require drivers to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machines, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work surroundings and warehouses can be really busy places. The operator of the forklift should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Furthermore, many forklift tasks require being outdoors to unload goods or move things; hence, the driver should be prepared at the likelihood of working in bad weather conditions.
Equipment Maintenance
Operators should be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy machine works. Operators need to learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and be able to guarantee that the steering, the horn, the lights, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
Forklift truck operators need to also understand how to properly maintain the vehicles and have to know when something is not functioning correctly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain machine issues to mechanics.