The lift truck is a dangerous machine. The most recent statistics have proven that over 100 employees are killed in some type of lift truck accident. 95,000 more employees are injured on the job each year as well, utilizing these heavy pieces of industrial machinery.
Unfortunately, nearly all of the fatalities are due to lift truck turnovers. The second highest percentage of fatalities is due to being crushed between a forklift and another surface. The third highest cause of death is being struck by the forklift itself and lastly, getting hit from falling objects because of a dropped load is the last statistic. Each and every fatality or injury is quite awful and frightening due to the ability and immense weight of these machines.
Who Must Conduct the Training?
All assessment and teaching needs to be taught by people who have the proper training, experience and knowledge to teach powered industrial truck operators the correct skills and then to assess their competency afterwards. Some examples of a skilled trainer include a person who has a certificate, professional status or certified degree in their possession, or somebody who has extensive training, experience and knowledge with lift trucks. A good candidate has plenty of practice and has demonstrated the ability to evaluate and train industrial truck operators.
There are resources accessible to pick from if their employer does not wish to perform the training themselves. Like for example, they can hire in local health and safety organizations, like for example truck manufacturers, the National Safety Council local chapters, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are normally local trade and vocational schools that will be really glad to offer several great resources.
The World Wide Web is full of websites committed to the safety of lift trucks. There are also private businesses which offer forklift safety training services, like written programs and videos. Nearly all safety videos could either be rented or leased or purchased. One vital factor to think about is that simply by showing your employees a video or a series of videos on forklift safety, does not meet the full requirements of the OSHA standard. Subsequent training and skill of the new drivers should be conveyed and assessed by a specific way so as to ensure the complete training has been acquired.
When the operator has successfully passed all of the necessary training, a forklift certificate would be given and they would legally be able to drive a lift truck. Valid forklift certificates are a requirement by organizations in order to keep everyone at the workplace as safe as possible.