Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The powered industrial truck or forklift is a heavy duty machinery found in practically every warehouse and factory. These reliable and tough equipment can lift and transport heavy items that are not able to raise manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to safely utilize a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machine it could be dangerous if not correctly handled, therefore, the skills of the driver are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator has to have good judgment so as to estimate the weight of a load. 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 very important to have proper judgement in order to move the lift truck around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Required forklift operator skills consist of quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. Like for example, if a stack of objects in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the driver should be able to respond quickly and try to rectify the issue. To be able to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is required when using and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
One of the top skills of a lift truck driver is that they have to be adaptable to the work environment. This could be continually changing depending on the job. Several forklift jobs need drivers to be exposed to dangerous machines, harmful materials, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work atmospheres and warehouses could be very busy places. The driver of the forklift must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Furthermore, numerous forklift tasks require being outdoors to unload goods or transport items; thus, the driver needs to be ready at the possibility of working in bad weather.
Machinery Maintenance
Drivers must be able to follow directions and understand how heavy machinery works. Operators should learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and could ensure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are working at an optimal level.
The driver of the lift truck should also be able to properly maintain the forklift and have to know when something is not functioning correctly. An essential part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about equipment problems.