You may be an aspiring forklift operator who has recently acquired training, wondering what’s next. OR You may have landed your dream job and are brimming with enthusiasm to step into an actual warehouse. If yes, then this blog is the last puzzle piece you need to kick-start your career confidently.
A forklift is not your everyday ordinary equipment to fiddle with. It can save you a lot of time and make your job effortless if used safely and responsibly. Firstly, anyone operating this equipment must have the training and authorization in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Your license is proof that you have received appropriate training and are capable of operating this equipment safely.
Once you get your license, you are left to your own devices to figure out how to navigate your way through a real-world warehouse facility. Now, an actual warehouse is quite different from what you have experienced in a training simulation, so it can understandably be quite intimidating. But you don’t have to worry because, in this blog, we will discuss everything a new forklift operator must consider while at work.
Prepare Yourself and Your equipment:
Before operating a forklift, what is the first thing you do?
A. Check whether you are properly geared up and whether the forklift is safe enough to operate.
B. Throw caution to the wind and take the plunge.
If your answer is B, then pull yourself a chair. We have got a lot to learn.
Just like any other equipment of such type, before operating a forklift, you are required to fill out a safety sign-in sheet every time you need to use a piece of equipment. The purpose of this sheet is to ascertain that you thoroughly assess and inspect the equipment by checking for charging or fuel levels, any obvious damage to it, brake functionality, seat belt, etc. You must be equipped with safety gear like high visibility jacket, hard hat, safety gloves, safety glasses, tether, fall protection harness, etc., with respect to the specific type of forklift you are going to operate. Remember precaution is a choice, and accidents are avoidable.
Traffic Rules of your Facility:
You will find that the entire facility functions on rules similar to that of the road. This means you always use your seat belt, obey floor markings, speed limits, and signs, do not try to overtake the forklift moving in the same direction, etc. And yes! You are required to take them just as seriously as the road rules.
Practice Due Diligence:
When at work, you are expected to have the maturity and skills to operate this equipment efficiently and safely. It is your responsibility towards your establishment and co-workers not to take your job lightly. A professional forklift operator tries to minimize or even eliminate the risk of property damage or injuries. Understandably, you want to leave a great first impression and hence strive to move the material quickly and efficiently, but in its pursuit, you don’t have to speed or violate safety rules to do a good job.
Know your equipment:
As obvious as it may sound, it is essential to know your vehicle and become one with it before you master its navigation. Immediately stops you from completing your transformation into a “transformer” Becoming one basically means being aware of the limits and capabilities of your equipment. For example, do not try to balance weight over its limit and strictly avoid driving it where it shouldn’t go or at a speed, it’s not built for.
Familiarize yourself with common safety measures:
Work ethics and ambition, while important, only help you so far. When you are behind the wheel you need to eliminate all sources of distraction and be absolutely alert. Familiarize yourself with forklift safety measures so well that by the time you get down to operating, you know them like the back of your hand. From something as important as ensuring that the load is well balanced to avoid a tip-over to something as minor as blowing the horn at intersections. These are the things that can single-handedly prevent workplace accidents.
If this doesn’t clear it up for you, or maybe we missed out on the information you were specifically looking for. You may head over to the Forklift Training Toronto Website, where our team would love to discuss it further. Whether you are looking for experience-based knowledge and guidance or want to benefit from the Best Forklift Training Toronto, we’ve got you covered.
