Duties of a Forklift Driver
The most common area for forklift operators to be employed are in factories and warehouses. Their responsibilities would consist of the lifting and transporting of supplies and goods from one area to another. They must be trained to safely utilized the lift truck controls. Specialized training is a requirement. Operators should pass a drug test and have a background check.
Performing Inspections
HRSDC and OSHA both require lift truck operators to perform daily and pre-shift checks. Forklift driver training must comprise the proper performance of safety checks to assure optimum functionality. An inspection should also be done at the end of every shift. Regular safety training must be undertaken on a yearly basis.
Unloading and Loading
Lift truck operators perform tasks related to loading and unloading supplies in a timely and safe manner. This job also includes the organized stacking of materials so they are accessible.
Weighing Supplies
The duties of a lift truck driver could include weighing the materials that are being moved and recording the weights.
Quality Control
The driver of the forklift will be in charge of quality control. They have to make sure orders are accurate and that goods do not sustain damage during transportation inside the warehouse.
Safety Awareness
Forklift operators must have great skills in both attention and awareness. Drivers have to be highly concerned with the safety of personnel and pedestrians. The operator should find the safest way to deal with challenges, like for example navigating a steep surface with a load. The operator must determine the route that is the safest. A driver's training would involve learning about the elements which may cause a lift truck to tip over. The operator should be extremely familiar with the design and safety ratings of the forklift unit that they are operating. A forklift driver needs to be sensitive to the need for breaks to prevent exhaustion. Forklift accidents are more likely to take place when an operator is exhausted.