Operator Safety - Competence

The first step in protecting lift truck operators is to ensure their competence. This can be achieved through proper training. In short, a competent operator knows how to protect him or herself and others from hazards, and has demonstrated his or her skills and knowledge to another competent person. On the following slides, we will examine examples of demonstrated knowledge and skills of a competent lift truck operator.

In order to be considered competent, a lift truck operator must demonstrate an awareness or understanding of:

• Applicable regulations, including those in the OHSA
• Hazards related to the task being performed
• Hazards related to the operation of the lift truck
• Features of the selected lift truck
• Training in operating the selected lift truck
• Limitations of the selected lift truck
• Workplace conditions and environment
• Manufacturer's specifications for operation and load handling
• Site-specific hazards and procedures for operating the selected lift truck

In order to be considered competent, a lift truck operator must have developed the necessary skills to complete the following tasks:

• Pre-operational check
• Safe start-up and shut-down of the lift truck
• Safe operation
  • Stopping and starting
  • Turning
  • Driving forward and in reverse with a load
  • Driving forward and in reverse without a load
  • Operating near other workers
• Load selection
• Load pickup and placement
• Load stacking and unstacking
• Operational maintenance

To learn more about Forklift Safety visit our Canada Forklift Safety Online Training web page.