Fork Operator Interview Questions And Answers

B. That the forklift will safely lift up to 2220 kg provided that the center of gravity of the load is not more than 600 mm forward from the face (heel) of the forks

We talk a lot about useful versus economic life and that’s because knowing the difference is important to you and your bottom line. Your forklift could be useful for a lot longer than it is economical, but it’s best to replace when it starts costing you money.

Any mobile power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials. Powered industrial trucks can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator. Earth moving and over the road haulage trucks are not included in the definition. Equipment that was designed to move earth but has been modified to accept forks are also not included.

Specialised forklift training can be supplied if you already have an F endorsement, but have obtained a new type of forklift with unfamiliar attachments.

All training and evaluation must be conducted by persons with the necessary knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence. An example of a qualified trainer would be a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience has demonstrated the ability to train and evaluate powered industrial truck operators.

You’re right in asking this question because having the right forklift for your application and work environment is imperative for safety and productivity. And, the line of Toyota Forklifts is extensive. If you don’t know which forklift you need, don’t worry. Every Toyota Forklift dealer has salespeople on staff who are qualified to do a site survey at your location. The site survey will identify the forklift, or forklifts, that will be best for you and your business based on your unique needs.

☛ Know the recommended load limit of the forklift and never exceed it.
☛ Know how to assess the weight of the load to be lifted.
☛ Do a visual and operational check of the forklift at the start of the shift.
☛ Always inspect and wear any seat belt or operator restraint device/system when these devices are available on the forklift truck.
☛ Know how to properly enter and leave the vehicle.
☛ Be familiar with the route for travel.
☛ Look ahead for any obstructions or restrictions that might be in the path you are going to travel (e.g., slippery floors, items in the path, weight restrictions for floors, dock or bridge plates, elevators, etc.).
☛ Check for adequate overhead clearance before raising the load.
☛ Operate a forklift smoothly when stopping, starting, lifting and tilting.
☛ Know the blind spots of the lift truck with and without a load.
☛ Use corner mirrors, back-up alarms, buzzers and warning lights to help prevent collisions.
☛ Communicate with workers who are nearby so they understand where you plan to travel.
☛ Keep pedestrians away from a forklift in operation. Operate with extreme caution when near pedestrians.
☛ Stop when anyone crosses the route being travelled. Lower the load to the floor, and wait until clear.
☛ Operate at a safe speed, taking into consideration all conditions.
☛ If loading another vehicle (e.g., transport truck), verify that the load wheels on the other vehicle are chocked before driving into the space.
☛ Use proper procedures when travelling on inclines or ramps.
☛ Ensure that the fire exits, stairways, and fire equipment are not blocked by the truck or the load.
☛ Wear leather gloves when moving or shifting loads or when checking skids.
☛ Wear fully laced safety boots to give impact protection when moving loads or skids and to provide ankle support when mounting and dismounting lift truck.
☛ Remain alert and prepare for the unexpected.
☛ Note anything that affects the normal operation of the forklift and tell the supervisor immediately.
☛ Keep hands, arms, head, feet and legs inside the confines of a moving forklift.
☛ Stay in the truck in case of overturn.
☛ Report any collisions, damage or near-miss incidents to a supervisor immediately.

The Worksafe code of Practice defines a powered industrial lift truck as a vehicle drawn or propelled by mechanical, electrical or manual power, designed incorporating a powered lift principally to lift carry or stack goods by means of a fork consisting of one or more arms which support the load; or a platform or; any attachment or other mechanism. Without limiting this definition this includes forklifts, order pickers, side loaders, reach trucks, pallet trucks, platform trucks, straddle trucks and lateral trucks. While this definition does not include straddle carriers, much of this code of practice is applicable to that equipment.

B. Travel in reverse looking in the direction of travel.

☛ Qualified Operators– Drivers must have proper training and licensing to operate material handling transportation equipment. According to OSHA, only trained and authorized personnel may operate forklift equipment.
☛ Daily Inspections– Forklift trucks require daily safety checks as well as inspection prior to use. Trucks that aren’t functioning properly should be removed from service.
☛ Consider the Operating Environment– Forklift routes should always be inspected for hazards such as loose materials, low overhead clearance and unstable loading ramps and bridge plates. Avoid bumps, holes and wet areas. Train tracks, elevators and ramps should be navigated carefully.
☛ Don’t Overload the Forklift– Operators should understand the load capacity for the forklift and be sure not to overload it.
☛ Maintain Load Stability– Operators should inspect all loads for balance and stability. Loads need to be symmetrical with a low center of gravity. When driving on ramps, loads should be higher than the body of the forklift. Forklifts should be driven up ramps but driven down in reverse.
☛ Maintain Visibility– Loads should be short and carried low to the ground to avoid restricting driver visibility. The forklift can be driven in reverse to improve visibility. A lookout may be needed to navigate around corners or when high stacks are necessary.
☛ Follow Company Safety Rules– Forklift operators should obey all company regulations concerning material handling. They should also use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), follow the speed limit and fasten their seatbelt.
☛ Caution in Pedestrian Areas– Forklift drivers should exercise extreme caution when navigating pedestrian areas, intersections, corners, stairways, exitsand entrances.
☛ Refuel Safely– Forklifts should be refueled at designated locations with the engine turned off and while avoiding open flames and sparks.
☛ Shutting Down– If left unattended, forklifts should be parked in designated areas with the parking brake applied and keys removed from the ignition.

An operator’s certificate is usually valid for three years – this is the recommendation in the Approved Code of Practice – but a company can decide to refresh the certificate more or less frequently depending on other training initiatives in place.

An F endorsement, once granted, remains on a driver licence as long as the licence is valid. It can be renewed for a small fee when the licence is renewed. You do not need to take another F endorsement course.

The operator should not:

☛ Operate a lift truck that does not have capacity rating information.
☛ Travel with the load raised more than ten centimetres (4 inches) from the floor.
☛ Leave the vehicle unattended while running or loaded.
☛ Allow unauthorized persons to operate the vehicle.
☛ Try to move or adjust any part of the load, the forklift or the surroundings when on the forklift.
☛ Lift a load that extends above the load backrest unless no part of the load can possibly slide back toward the operator.
☛ Allow anyone but the operator to ride on the forklift, unless the forklift truck has been designed for second person.
☛ Use pallets elevated by forklifts as an improvised working platform.
☛ Allow anyone to stand or walk under the elevated part of any forklift, whether loaded or unloaded.

OSHA does not require fire extinguishers on forklifts. However, if they are provided they would fall under 1910.157(e), which requires portable fire extinguishers to be visually inspected monthly and subjected to a maintenance check annually.

No. It is the employer's responsibility to train the employees.

It is important that you purchase your forklift attachment from the forklift manufacturer and that the manufacturer installs the attachment too. Toyota offers a number of forklift attachments for various applications. However, it’s important to know that adding attachments to your forklift can, and likely will, change the capacity rating. Anytime attachments are added to a forklift, the data plate should be updated to reflect the change in capacity rating.

In most cases, commercial motor vehicles (CMV) are no longer required to chock trailer wheels when parking at loading docks. In an agreement between the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and OSHA, authority over CMV parking issues belongs to the FMCSA. Consequently, OSHA’s wheel chocking requirements in 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1) and 1910.178(m)(7) of the Powered Industrial Truck standard no longer apply to commercial motor vehicles.

Any employee that operates a powered industrial truck must be trained.

Forklifts are very dangerous. If you have never driven a forklift then you will need to take a beginner course. These usually take 1-2 days. If you have some experience then you can take a shorter course that usually lasts for 4-8 hours. Check with the instructor what they recommend.

Forklift trucks should be operated only by experienced workers who are trained, certified or licensed to perform this task. Some jurisdictions specify that only a "competent" or "authorized" person may operate powered lift trucks and others may specify a minimum operator age (e.g., 18 years or older). Check with your local occupational health and safety authorities for more information.

When it comes to new forklifts, you have three options. You can rent, lease, or buy. Of course, you can also purchase a used forklift, but you need to be sure the person or place you’re purchasing from is reputable, because forklift malfunctions can be very dangerous.

Every type of establishment (except agricultural operations) that has employees who operate powered industrial trucks will have to comply with the requirements of the standard. Powered industrial trucks are used in a wide variety of workplaces, including but not limited to retail establishments, warehousing and distribution operations, and manufacturing establishments.

OSHA's current policy does not distinguish based on the number of stops. It requires that if seat belts are on the equipment, they must be used at all times while operating.

Yes. The standard provides a list of training topics; however, the employer may exclude those topics which are not relevant to safe operation at the employee's work location.

Your best bet is to sign up for a planned maintenance agreement when you purchase your Toyota Forklift. A planned maintenance agreement ensures that your forklift will be maintained at the proper times by a qualified Toyota Technician.