Radio Times Big Picture Quiz 2024
Offers & Competitions4 mins ago
I said I'd make a new thread earlier so like I explained in my other one. This guy I went on a date with 2 weeks ago and as I explained he said he wanted a 2nd we were meant to go out last Friday but he cancelled as he has a cold. He said on Sunday he would let me know if he wants to go out this week but said yesterday he has a cold but also hasn't been messaging me in the morning like he normally would
Forklift truck drivers are essential to the smooth running of operations in many sectors like construction, manufacturing or warehousing.
To become a forklift truck driver, you don’t need any academic qualifications in things like English and science, but you do need to have completed an approved forklift training course. These courses can take between 3 and 5 days and will combine practical learning with theory to make sure you can operate the truck properly, safely and legally.
Other than the required qualification, there are a certain set of skills and competencies that would benefit any forklift driver; newly qualified or highly experienced.
So if you’re considering starting a career as a forklift operative, have a look over the skills below and see how you match up!
Concentration
Being able to concentrate on a task may seem like a simple skill, but if you know you are easily distracted from the job at hand, then forklift driving probably isn’t for you. Concentration is one of the most important skills you can have in a potentially dangerous working environment.
Discipline
The sectors you will be working in are renowned for being hazardous, and have very high accident and injury rates as a result.
As such, your employer will have a health and safety policy that you will need to follow carefully. As a forklift operative, this will include things like carrying out a full inspection of your truck each time you use it, staying within designated forklift zones at all times and keeping to a safe speed limit.
With experience, it is easy to become complacent, so to do your job safely, it is vital you have enough discipline to uphold this strict set of rules all the time.
Calm under pressure
The conditions you will be working in may not always be straightforward. As such you must be organised and prepared enough to change your method of working, at a moment’s notice.
In many industries, there will be peaks in work, where what is expected from you in a normal day will differ – whether this is taking on new tasks or increasing the amount of work you normally do. It is essential you are not easily flustered, and can continue to operate safely and carefully no matter how much pressure you are under.
Again, discipline is vital when it comes to these peak times as you must never be tempted to ‘cut corners’ to get a job done quicker.
Maths
Although you don’t need an academic qualification in maths to be a forklift driver, some basic numerical skills will really help you to do your job safely and efficiently.
You need to be able to work out the weight of a load and compare it to the capacity of the truck, taking into consideration the distance you will be travelling, the height the load needs to be lifted to and, sometimes, even the angle of the slopes and corners you need to navigate.
Adaptability
In sectors like construction and manufacturing, forklifts will not be the only equipment you can utilise to get a job done.
Being able to transfer your skills and gain qualifications for other types of mechanical lifting and handling equipment, such as scissor lifts and side loading trucks, can be hugely beneficial to your employer, and of course, your career progression.
COURSE / SUBJECT
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Thanks calmck , I hope Abbey sees that and asks her parents for advice on whether she seems to have the skills and competences listed. The role seems to me very stretching for Abbey...I agree with Prudie. But if the course is free it's worth doing: even if she fails at least she can cross it off the list.