While many industrial jobs rely on a contingent workforce of general laborers to maintain productivity on a day-to-day basis, others call for highly skilled professionals that specialize in one discipline or another. Job seekers who have already obtained forklift certification, for example, might find career longevity and success as a material handler in the manufacturing sector.
The Importance of Forklift Certification
Forklift certification is important for many reasons, including:
- It’s the law. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, anyone operating a forklift must hold an active OSHA forklift certification. Employers can be fined from $7,000 to $70,000 for specific offenses.
- It emphasizes safety. Forklifts are heavy machinery that must be operated by a skilled, safety-oriented professional. According to OSHA’s studies, approximately 100 deaths occur as a result of forklift accidents every year in the United States, so proper certification can actually save lives in the workplace.
- It saves time and money. Not only do you eliminate the need for manual stocking, order picking and material handling, you reduce the chance of damaging goods during the handling processes.
As you can see, a forklift makes the job of the material handler easier, safer and less costly to the company. But what does a material handler typically do on a day-to-day basis?
The Typical Material Handler Job
Material handlers are typically involved in many different tasks around the warehouse. This includes from maintaining material inventory levels to pulling specific orders, delivering supplies to various locations in the warehouse and staging finished products before final shipment and distribution. Additional duties include:
- Documenting, verifying and recording information related to material shipments and usage
- Processing returned materials according to company guidelines
- Maintaining related equipment and tools through regular inspections and repairs
Some warehouse settings might require more from their material handlers, but this summarizes their typical duties. Useful skills include a strong attention to detail, the ability to organize and multitask on a daily basis and the ability to enter data in an accurate and efficient manner.
How Can Mega Force Help You?
Mega Force can help you find your next job as a material handler. Not only do our job openings vary on a day-to-day basis, but we constantly work to connect you with the opportunities that best match your needs, skill set and professional requirements. Contact us today for more information on finding the best industrial jobs in North Carolina!
