Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy machine found in warehouses and in factories. They are used to transport and move bulk things that are very heavy to carry or lift by hand. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to safely operate a forklift. Most employers prefer a high school degree. As the forklift is a heavy piece of equipment it can be dangerous if not properly handled, thus, the driver's skills are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver needs to have good judgment in order to estimate how much a load weighs. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the load in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is very essential to have proper judgement to be able to move the forklift around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the equipment in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Required lift truck skills skills include quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. Like for example, 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 fix the problem. To be able to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is necessary when operating and working in the vicinity of these machinery.
Adaptability
Amongst the top skills of a forklift operator is that they have to be adaptable to the work setting. This can be continually changing depending on the task. Some forklift tasks need drivers to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous machines, fumes, odors or loud noises. Work surroundings and warehouses can be very busy places. The driver of the forklift should be able to keep a cool head and an eye toward safety in general. Moreover, many forklift tasks require being outdoors to unload supplies or move items; thus, the operator has to be prepared at the possibility of working in poor weather.
Machine Maintenance
Operators should be able to follow instructions and understand how heavy machine works. Drivers need to learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and could make certain that the horn, the lights, the steering, the forks and the brakes, along with other components are functioning at an optimal level.
Forklift truck operators have to also understand how to properly maintain the vehicles and have to know when something is not working correctly. An important part of lift truck truck training is also being able to explain to mechanics about machinery problems.