Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Operator
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy equipment found in warehouses and in factories. They are used to transport and move bulk items which are very heavy to carry or lift manually. There is some specific training complete in order to be able to utilize a forklift safely. Nearly all employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it can be dangerous if not handled properly, thus, the driver's skills are extremely necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift operator has to have good judgment in order to estimate the weight of a load. They need to be able to judge the width and height of the cargo in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is very essential to have good judgement to be able to move the lift truck around obstacles and negotiate tight turns in order to be able to capably drive the machinery in reverse.
Reflexes and Concentration
Driver skills which come in handy are good hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. Like for instance, if a stack of things in a load or a pallet is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to respond quickly and try to solve the issue. In order to prevent accidents, a high level of concentration is necessary when operating and working in the vicinity of these machinery.
Adaptability
One of the top skills of a forklift operator is that they have to be adaptable to the work environment. This can be continually changing depending on the job. Some forklift tasks need operators to be exposed to damaging materials, dangerous equipment, odors, loud noises or fumes. Work surroundings and warehouses could be busy places. The operator of the forklift must be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head in general. In addition, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload merchandise or transport things; thus, the operator should be prepared at the possibility of working in bad weather conditions.
Machinery Maintenance
Forklift operators have to understand how heavy mobile machinery works and have to be able and willing to follow instructions. Operators should learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and can guarantee that the lights, the steering, the horn, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
The operator of the forklift should also be able to correctly maintain the forklift and have to know when something is not functioning correctly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain machinery problems to mechanics.