Construction Machine Blog

When a prospective forklift operator gets a job that requires her to drive a forklift, she undergoes training provided by the employer or a third party hired by the employer. The training includes classroom or lecture teaching and supervised driving. Both components include testing, and the driver becomes certified when the employer is convinced she can safely operate the vehicle.

Classroom

1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that forklift operators receive classroom-style or lecture training about the forklifts they will be driving. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training, and the content is not specified, but oral or written testing is part of the training. Typically, this training includes information about the forklift the operator will drive, including safety measures to be taken.

Supervision

2. The second component of forklift training is supervised driving. The forklift operator is trained and tested to ensure he can safely and effectively drive the forklift he will use as part of his duties in the environment he will be driving, including the terrain on which he will be driving and with the same surrounding structures, vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic.

   When the driver has been tested both in the classroom and driving under supervision, he may be certified.

Refresher Course

3. OSHA requires that forklift drivers receive periodic refresher training. The frequency and content of the refresher training is not specified by the agency, but a supervisor or third-party agency designated by the employer must periodically ensure through oral, written and/or driving testing that the forklift operator understands how to drive safely.

Certification Won’t Transfer

4. Forklift certification does not transfer from job to job because work environments vary. When a driver arrives in a new work environment, the new employer may opt to test her on classroom instruction and supervised driving without doing any training, and may decide she can safely drive a forklift without additional training. The same holds true if she arrives from an independent forklift training and testing facility.

Exceptions

5. If a forklift driver will be driving a Class VI (tow tractor) or Class VII (rough terrain) forklift in an agricultural setting, he does not need to be trained or tested. He must be trained and tested if he will be operating one of these types of lift trucks in an industrial, construction, manufacturing, forestry or logging environment.

Certified forklift drivers handle a variety of tasks, including stacking warehouse items and transporting products in shipping terminals. Many employers require that employees earn certification, which ensures they understand how to handle the equipment properly and how to maintain their forklift. But to become a certified forklift driver, you must complete the required education and receive certification from the organization that provided the training. Here’s a guide to becoming a certified forklift driver.

Check out apprenticeships with the International Union of Operating Engineers. If your application is approved to become a forklift driver, they will provide paid training, which may turn into full-time employment pending graduation of the apprenticeship.

Check out forklifting schools. Individuals interested in becoming certified forklift drivers can also enroll in a formal program. Golden Start Truck Driving (see Resources) offers a program that provides certification.

Check out the JobCorp (see Resources). They also provide certified forklift driver training programs. These programs are offered at a small cost; however, you must complete an application to apply. Find a facility in your area by calling 877-US-2Jobs.

Get certified with the Association for Operations Management. This organization offers a training program allowing graduates to become certified upon successful competition of the program.

Choose a program that covers how to maintain your forklift. Certified forklift drivers are expected to provide maintenance on their equipment. Choosing a program that concentrates heavily on this area will make you more marketable to potential employers.

A forklift is an industrial vehicle that has a pronged platform that can be raised and lowered. Forklifts are ideal for moving heavy loads. Whether you use one on your job or have one at home for occasional jobs, maintain it well and prolong its life.

1. Check the hydraulic fluid, motor oil and transmission fluid regularly in order to maintain a forklift properly. How often you check fluid levels will depend on how often the forklift is used. If used daily, then check daily. For occasional forklift use, weekly or monthly checks are sufficient.
2. Make sure that all grease fittings are greased regularly. On a forklift, this mainly includes all of the moving joints.
3. Keep the battery fully charged on an electric forklift. If your forklift runs on LP gas, make sure the tank stays full in order to maintain it efficiently.
4. Pay attention to the gauges and warning lights on the forklift. Any light or gauge that indicates a problem should be checked out immediately. Failure to do so could result in more costly repairs.
5. Inspect controls regularly. If the controls feel slack or loose, the forklift could need hydraulic fluid or there could be a leak in one of the lines.
6. Look at the tires daily. Some forklift tires require air. Others are just solid pieces of rubber. If the forklift tires require air, make sure the air pressure in the tires is correct. If your tires are just solid rubber, check for gashes in the tire. This could cause an unstable ride and possibly damage whatever you are moving.

Forklifts are generally used in engaging, lifting and transferring loads for warehousing, construction operations, material handling and other manufacturing factories. In choosing forklifts, you have to understand the different kinds of forklifts to determine the most appropriate truck for your needs.

The two main types of forklifts are electric and internal combustion forklifts. Electric forklifts are usually used for indoor operations. It is the most recommended forklift for heavy lifting and for low operating costs.

On the other hand, IT (internal combustion) forklifts are used for outdoor operations. They are particularly valuable for businesses that require forklifts with ease of refueling. The subcategories of forklifts are fork truck, motorized drive and manual drive.

• Fork trucks: These kinds of forklifts are motorized. However, they also include extra features such as backup alarms and cabs.
• Motorized-drive forklifts: These kinds of trucks, as its name suggests, have a motorized drive and usually have a protected seat for the forklift operator.
• Manual drive forklifts: With these kinds of forklifts, the movement of load is manually powered.

Other forklifts are designed counterbalanced to avoid the truck from possible overturning. Some forklifts include safety handrails or turntables. For specified applications, your can choose specialty forklifts based on your preferences.

For instance, if space is your major issue, you could purchase 6’-wide narrow aisle forklifts to allow smooth operations even in small spaces. On the other hand, if your operation is normally outdoors with uneven surfaces, you should consider rough-terrain forklifts.

Other variations of forklifts include:

1. Stand-up rider forklifts – Have counterbalance weights in their body. Usually designed with the rider inside the body of the truck, these forklifts are electric counterbalanced riders.
2. Stand-up, narrow aisle rider – This forklift have straddle legs located on both sides, which provide extra stability even without counterweight in its body. These kinds of forklifts are electric and are recommended for areas with minimal spaces.
3. Sit-down rider – For these forklifts, the counterbalance is located at the rear part.
4. Motorized hand-pallet jacks – These models are low-lift trucks that have forks. While some allows the forklift operators to stand on the back, others are walked.
5. Reach forklift – These kinds of forklifts have big, pneumatic tires. They also include a boom that extends and raises. Reach forklifts outriggers at the front, which allows the forklift to be stabilized on uneven grounds.

Usually, people new to forklifts can find it difficult to differentiate one truck from the other. With this brief guideline, you can narrow down your choices and be able to purchase the forklift that fits your needs.

It’s just the preventable ones that occur that are tougher to swallow. If you work inside of a warehouse or any other place that requires the use of a forklift, you may want to consider this checklist before use. I decided to take the liberty of conducting a forklift inspection.

list. This list will cover all the possible concerns that could endanger the operator or persons within the vincinity.

10 Warning Precautions to consider:

*Know your forklift – Do not operate this truck unless you have received thorough training and you are authorized to use it.

*Check your forklift – Forklifts should be checked on a daily basis before use.
(See checklist at bottom)

*Keep body inside at all times – Please do not attempt to place any part of your body within
the mast structure or between the mast and truck.

*Never overload – Don’t overload the forklift, check weight and capacity rules.

*Be visual of your surroundings – Be courteous to pedestrians by operating the forklift in a
safe and professional manner.

*Avoid sudden jerks/movement – Operate your forklift as smoothly as possible. Use precise
care when in use to avoid an overturn.

*Stablize your load – Try not to handle any loose or unstacked loads. Use special care when
Handling loads to avoid losing the load or striking pedestrians.

*Use work platform – Never lift pedestrians unless they are attached to a security harness.

*Please be certain to close down your forklift completely, never leave behind the key or leave
running with the key.

*Never allow or advise the use of the forklift to any particular persons who are not authorized
or have no experience using one.

A worker was killed after the forklift overturned and pinned the man.

Occupational Health and Safety Administration alerts Virginia construction accident lawyers- A worker was killed by a forklift at Burris Logistics.

Staunton, VA—A 27-year-old Greenville man was killed after he was pinned underneath a forklift at Burris Logistics. The tragic workplace accident occurred on Friday morning, November 13, 2009 on Mount Torrey Road in Lyndhurst, as reported by the Waynesboro News Virginian.

Matt Megginson, 27, of Greenville reportedly lost control of a standup forklift at Burris Logistics, when it overturned and pinned the man underneath the heavy machine. Augusta County rescue teams rushed to the scene of the accident and began to administer first aid. The Waynesboro Fire Department also responded to the scene. Medical professionals pronounced Megginson dead at the scene after his injuries proved fatal. It has not been determined what caused the forklift to loose control and overturn. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry  investigators are conducting a full investigation into the fatal accident. Officials from the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)  are also expected to investigate.

Burris Logistics is reportedly a food distribution company that does business in refrigerated warehouses and frozen food transportation. OSHA reported that 22 percent of the 1,021 forklift-related deaths that have occurred over the past 14 years were by overturned machinery.