The forklift is a dangerous machine. The most recent statistics have shown that more than 100 employees are killed in some kind of lift truck accident. 95,000 more employees are injured on the job on a yearly basis too, utilizing these heavy pieces of industrial machines.
Nearly all fatalities have been because of lift truck turnovers. Being crushed between the lift truck and another surface is the next highest percentage of fatalities. The third highest cause of fatality is being struck by the lift truck itself and lastly, getting hit from falling objects due to a dropped load is the last statistic. Each injury or fatality is quite frightening and awful because of the capability and immense weight of these equipment.
Who Should Conduct the Training?
All evaluation and teaching needs to be taught by individuals who have the proper training, knowledge and experience to teach powered industrial truck operators the right skills and then to evaluate their competence after that. Several examples of a qualified trainer include a person who has a certificate, professional standing or certified degree in their possession, or who has extensive training, experience and knowledge using lift trucks. A good candidate has plenty of experience and has shown the ability to evaluate and teach industrial truck operators.
There are resources accessible to pick from if their employer does not want to perform the training themselves. Like for example, they could employ in local health and safety organizations, like truck manufacturers, the National Safety Council local chapters, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are often local vocational and trade schools that would be very glad to offer several great resources.
The internet is full of web sites committed to the safety of lift trucks. There are also private businesses that offer lift truck safety training services, like videos and written programs. Most safety videos can either be leased or rented or bought. One essential thing to think about is that simply by showing your workers a video or a series of videos about lift truck safety, does not meet the full requirements of the OSHA standard. Succeeding training and knowledge of the new drivers must be conveyed and evaluated by a particular way so as to ensure the complete training has been acquired.
When the operator has successfully passed all of the necessary training, a forklift license would be issued and they would legally be able to operate a lift truck. Valid forklift licenses are a requirement by organizations to be able to keep everyone at the workplace very safe.