Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy machinery found in warehouses and in factories. They are used to transport and move bulk things that are too heavy to carry or lift manually. There is some specific 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 machine it can be dangerous if not handled properly, therefore, the skills of the operator are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment to be able to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the height and width of the load so as to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is essential to have proper 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.
Concentration and Reflexes
Required forklift operator skills include excellent hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. For instance, if a stack of items in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to quickly respond and try to solve the problem. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is needed when utilizing and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Depending on the job, amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending upon every job, this could change on a continuous basis. Some forklift jobs require operators to be exposed to dangerous machinery, harmful materials, loud noises, fumes or odors. Warehouses and work surroundings can be busy places. The lift truck operator should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Moreover, lots of forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload goods or transport items; hence, the operator should be ready at the possibility of working in poor climate.
Machine Maintenance
Operators must be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy machine works. Drivers have to learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and be able to make sure that the lights, the steering, the horn, the brakes and the forks, along with other components are working at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers need to also understand how to properly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not working properly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain equipment issues to mechanics.