If you are expanding your business or have recently changed machines then you might be looking to hire a new forklift operator. Being able to find someone to be able to operate your machines efficiently so that you are able to get the most out of your new machine can be more difficult than you might think. Regardless of the type of forklift that you have, you still need to carefully consider who you are bringing in to operate them. 

Whether you are hiring for a full-time position or a temporary one that will only help at specific times, it is imperative that you find the right operator is able to help in maintaining a high level of safety and efficiency in the workplace.

In order to hire the right operator, you need to know what to look for. Their level of experience whilst a key factor is not the only thing you should look for, an employee with less experience can be more committed, focussed and hardworking given the right level of training than someone with years of experience behind them. Plus training these employees can be very rewarding for your business in the short and long term.

So what should you look out for?

Someone Who Puts Safety First

Safety when working with forklifts should be at the forefront of your mind when you are making a new hire, so finding a candidate focused on safety and getting the job done can save you a lot of headaches in the future.

It’s always advisable to gather as much information about how safety-conscious the candidate is throughout the interview process and through the information provided by previous employers if possible. The dangerous nature of industrial workplaces can be made significantly worse with an unfocused employee, so when gathering previous references pay particular attention to their attitudes to safety and past safety records if you can.

Someone who is highly focused

Hiring someone who is focused will not only help to reduce your safety concerns in the workplace but will also be aware of what s going on around them. Many of the injuries that occur in workplaces involving forklifts can be avoided because someone wasn’t giving enough attention to their task and their surroundings.

By also hiring a focused candidate, you are likely to hire someone who will be able to get the job done efficiently and take care when performing their daily checks, therefore, reducing your maintenance downtime.

Someone Who Can Operate The Machines

This might sound like common sense, however, it still shouldn’t be overlooked. If you operate using a mixed fleet rather than a single machine type, then this becomes even more important. This is because each type of machine takes a different set of skills to operate. While the basics are the same, the difference between a Reach truck and a counterbalance can be huge if you have no experience in operating one.

If you’ve got the people then we have the machines to grow your business, get in touch with a member of our team today.