Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
The forklift or powered industrial truck is a heavy duty equipment found in practically every warehouse and factory. These reliable and tough equipment can raise and transport heavy items that are not able to raise manually. There is some particular training complete in order to be able to operate a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. As the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it could be dangerous if not correctly handled, thus, the driver's skills are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver has to have good judgment to be able to estimate how much a load weighs. They have to be able to judge the height and width of the cargo so as to ensure that it will fit in a designed area. It is important to have proper judgement in order 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
Necessary forklift skills skills include quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. Like for instance, if a stack of items in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the operator must be able to quickly respond and try to solve the issue. In order to prevent mishaps, a high level of concentration is required when operating and working in the vicinity of these machines.
Adaptability
Depending upon the task, amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work setting. Depending upon each job, this can change on a continuous basis. Some forklift jobs need drivers to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous equipment, odors, loud noises or fumes. Work atmospheres and warehouses could be very busy places. The forklift driver must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head in general. Additionally, lots of forklift tasks require being outdoors to move items or unload merchandise; therefore, the driver must be prepared at the likelihood of working in poor climate.
Equipment Maintenance
Operators must be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy equipment works. Operators have to learn how to double check an Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety checklist and could guarantee that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are working at an optimal level.
The operator of the forklift must also be able to correctly maintain the lift truck and need to know when something is not working properly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machinery problems.