Rough Terrain Forklift Training
Normally used on construction sites and on forestry and logging projects, Rough terrain or Class VII lift trucks is a popular choice for lots of outdoor settings that need a vehicle to run on uneven ground. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA states that drivers have to receive lecture or classroom style training as well as supervised driving training. Periodic refresher training courses are taken by the operators in order to keep them in top form.
Lecture or Classroom Training
The first step is taking instruction in a classroom or lecture style. Training consists of the essential information about the equipment that the operator would be working with. Details like lifting capacities and how to refuel the lift truck are talked about. Safety tips are essential to understand prior to operation. OSHA does not place a minimum time requirement on classroom training, however, they do state that oral and written exams could be part of the training process.
Supervised Driving
The next step in rough terrain lift truck training involves supervised driving, similar to when somebody learns to drive a passenger car. The driver is required to learn how to operate the particular kind of rough terrain forklift that they would operate in the workplace. Also, they must practice operating this type of lift truck in an environment that closely replicates the situations wherein they will be driving. Several of the other situations covered in training include handling structures nearby, vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
Certification
The supervisor can certify the operator for that workplace after a supervisor determines whether an operator is capable of safely driving a rough terrain lift truck. The certification for the driver can be kept in their personnel file. If the training is to be taken in a 3rd party training facility, the trainer hands the driver the certification. Since work environments vary, the certifications are not transferable; thus, drivers should be re-certified again in the new environment. Typically, training passes faster after the driver has been certified the first time.
There are some extremely essential safety concerns connected with driving a forklift. Operators have to stay alert and able to drive with the utmost care and attention. Practicing good habits can really save lives at the end of the day. Furthermore, much less damage to the goods, the work environment or the machinery itself occurs when operators are working at the top of their game.