Driving a forklift involves knowledge about the vehicle and its capabilities as well as an understanding about safety issues and the potential hazards when operating this type of machinery. Forklift jobs are available in a wide cross section of industry, many of them in a warehouse setting, at shipyards and merchandise distribution centers.
Even the local supermarket has lift truck operators, and all individuals who drive these vehicles have completed an instruction course designed to teach the driver about safety around others, proper lifting and transport of materials, and how to keep the machine in good working order.
Training To Be A Forklift Operator
For those who are considering a job position that involves operating a lift truck, remember that these vehicles come in a variety of models, each designed to perform a specific type of work or to move a particular kind of material. A forklift operator must become familiar with his or her machine as pertains to the job at hand.
This does not mean that persons wanting to enter this field must have extensive lift truck experience before applying for the job; many employers are looking for new applicants who are willing to be trained. However certification is desired by most employers, either before employment begins or soon afterwards. A forklift license is not really a license but rather a piece of paper that states the job applicant has completed an approved forklift training course, either at a local instruction class or online.
These courses are meant to instruct the individual about the proper use of a lift truck, what safety issues need to be addressed and most importantly, how to avoid accidents on the job. OSHA forklift training means the operator of the vehicle has learned the facts about worker safety when operating this type of machinery in and around others and is ready to actually begin learning how to drive the vehicle.
What The Forklift Training Course Includes
The certification course is divided into several sections, and some of these instructional classes are more involved than others. Most will have a section on how to recognize safety hazards in and around the workplace, a section on understanding how a lift truck works and why it has a limited load capability, and a section about proper driving techniques and what constitutes dangerous vehicle operation.
Many are not familiar with the different types of lift trucks, but basically there are two categories. The first is a sit-down model that can be fitted with either forks or paddles. Forks are used to lift and transport pallets that contain crates or other secured materials. Paddles are used to grab items such as bales of plastic. Either the forks or paddles can be lifted above the level of the truck itself for easy storage of materials on shelving in a warehouse, or when loading/unloading a trailer.
The second type of forklift is often called a reach truck, which has a very tall, extendable lift frame and a horizontal extension for loading/unloading materials at locations when the vehicle itself cannot be placed close to the area where the pallet or bale needs to be settled. These models are often “stand-up”, meaning the operator is standing in the driver’s area rather than sitting down.
A forklift certification course will take the student through the configurations of these machines and offer safety tips about proper driving techniques, the dangers of lifting heavy materials too high while driving, and how to properly balance a load.
More About Worker Safety
Safety is of course the top priority, and forklift training courses emphasize this more than anything else. Learning to look both ahead and behind when operating a lift truck, proper turning and cornering techniques, the importance of keeping a load near the ground until in a position to place the pallet or bale on a shelf, and knowing when to use the vehicle’s horn are all covered in detail.
Most accidents involving a forklift occur when the operator is improperly transporting material. If the center of gravity is too high, taking a sharp corner at high speed can result in a tip over accident, which can be fatal for the driver. A forklift training course goes into great detail about proper transport of materials, and teaches students about counterbalancing and load limits for any particular vehicle.
Forklift Training And Getting Certified
While much of this sounds complicated, it is really no different than studying a driver’s manual and focusing on the sections about driver safety, road hazards and defensive driving techniques. These forklift certification classes can often be completed in just a few hours, and the online forklift training courses are very inexpensive. Since employers pray for zero accidents, they know that a job applicant who has completed a forklift training course is better prepared to operate one of these specialized vehicles in a safe manner.
Many employers will take the time to train their new worker on how to drive the vehicle, how the lift truck is used in that particular job, how to change out the forks and paddles, and about recharging the electric models. The purpose of the certification therefore is to insure the worker is familiar with the safety concerns above all else. This is why becoming certified before applying for this type of work will always impress the prospective employer.
There are more extensive forklift operator courses available, including on-site driving practice and learning about the controls of a particular vehicle, but the certification class is the one new operators should focus on. It is this piece of paper that tells an employer the applicant is ready to take on the responsibilities of the job and is concerned with job safety. Online forklift training courses and in-person classes are available to everyone who wishes to enter this well-paying field.
