responsibilities of a Forklift Driver
The most common area for lift truck drivers to be employed are in factories and warehouses. Their responsibilities will comprise the lifting and transporting of supplies and goods from one place to another. They must be trained to safely operate the lift truck controls. Specialized training is a requirement. Operators must pass a drug test and have a background check.
Performing Inspections
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that all lift truck drivers carry out a daily pre-shift lift truck check. Lift truck driver training should consist of the proper performance of safety checks to assure optimum functionality. An inspection should also be done at the end of each shift. Regular safety training must be undertaken on a yearly basis.
Unloading and Loading
Lift truck operators perform tasks related to unloading and loading supplies in a safe and timely way. This responsibility also includes the stacking of supplies in an organized method so they are accessible.
Weighing Materials
The responsibilities of a forklift driver could include weighing the supplies that are being transported and recording the weights.
Quality Control
The operator of the lift truck would be in charge of quality control. They need to make sure that products do not sustain damage during transportation inside the warehouse and orders are correct.
Safety Awareness
Forklift operators should have great skills in both attention and awareness. Operators need to be highly concerned with the safety of employees and pedestrians. The operator would have to find the safest way to handle difficulties, like for instance navigating a steep surface with a cargo. The driver would need to determine the safest route to take. A driver's training would include learning about the elements which may cause a forklift to tip over. The driver has to be very familiar with the safety ratings and design of the forklift unit that they are utilizing. A forklift driver needs to be sensitive to the need for breaks to avoid exhaustion. Mishaps associated to lift trucks are more likely to happen when an operator is tired.