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Fork-Lift Operator - Personal requirements

Kaitaraiwa Waka Uta

Skills & knowledge

Fork-lift operators need to have:

good driving skills
a thorough understanding of the operation and limitations of a fork-lift
the ability to judge distances, weights and volumes
mechanical skills
knowledge of the Code of Practice for Fork-Lift Operators
knowledge of the health and safety regulations in their workplace
knowledge of the fuel requirements of different fork-lifts including diesel, LPG, CNG (compressed natural gas) and battery-operated models.

Mark Harris using a fork-lift to place a pallet of goods on a shelf in a warehouse

Mark Harris manoeuvring a pallet into place

Personal Qualities

Fork-lift operators need to be:

accurate and careful
alert
responsible
practical
able to follow instructions.

They should also enjoy dealing with a wide range of people.

"A good fork-lift driver is someone who is always aware, sticks to regulations and rules, and follows procedures."

Mark Harris - Hoist Driver/Storeperson

Physical Requirements

Fork-lift operators need to have good hand-eye co-ordination, reflexes and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses). They also need to be able to sit for long periods.

Fork-lift operators who unpack and repack goods by hand need to be reasonably fit and strong.

"Most of the time you're using one hand to move the forks up and down and tilt them, the other hand is on the steering wheel and you're watching how it is going. So good hand-eye co-ordination is really important."

Deb Carson - Fork-lift Operator

Previous page - Tasks and specialisations

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Updated September 2009

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