Duties of a Forklift Driver
The most common area for forklift drivers to be employed are in warehouses and factories. Their responsibilities would comprise the lifting and transporting of supplies and goods from one area to another. They should be trained to utilized the forklift controls safely. Specialized training is a requirement. Drivers should pass a drug test and have a background check.
Performing Checks
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that all forklift drivers perform a daily pre-shift forklift inspection. Forklift driver training must consist of the correct performance of safety inspections to guarantee optimum functionality. An inspection must also be done at the end of each shift. Regular safety training should be undertaken on an annual basis.
Unloading and Loading
The forklift driver is tasked with the job of loading and unloading materials in a safe and timely way. This responsibility also includes the stacking of goods in an organized method so they are accessible.
Weighing Supplies
Weighing the materials which are to be transported could be part of the forklift driver's duties.
Quality Control
Forklift operators are in charge of quality control. They must make certain orders are accurate and that goods do not sustain damage during transportation in the warehouse.
Safety Awareness
Forklift drivers must have good skills in both awareness and attention. Drivers need to be very concerned with the safety of both employees and pedestrians. The driver must find the safest way to deal with challenges, such as navigating a steep surface with a load. The driver should determine the safest route to take. An operator's training would involve learning about the forces that might cause a lift truck to tip over. The operator must be extremely familiar with the safety ratings and design of the lift truck unit which they are utilizing. A lift truck driver must be sensitive to the need for breaks to avoid fatigue. Forklift mishaps are more likely to happen when an operator is tired.