Lift trucks are very dangerous machines. Statistics by OSHA show that around 100 warehouse employees are killed each and every year in lift truck accidents while they are operating them. An additional 95,000 employees are hurt on the job each and every year as well, utilizing these heavy pieces of industrial equipment.
Most fatalities have been due to forklift turnovers. Being crushed between the forklift and another surface is the second highest percentage of fatalities. The third highest cause of death is being struck by the lift truck itself and lastly, getting hit from falling things due to a dropped load is the last statistic. Each and every fatality or injury is quite terrible and gruesome due to the immense weight and ability of these equipment.
Who Must Conduct the Training?
All teaching and evaluation for forklift operation needs to be taught by appropriately trained instructors. These trainers should have the knowledge and experience to train potential operators the required skills to evaluate their competence afterwards. Several examples of a qualified trainer include a person who has a license, certified degree or professional standing in their possession, or who has extensive training, experience and knowledge utilizing lift trucks. A good candidate has lots of practice and has demonstrated the ability to train and assess drivers of industrial trucks.
If the employer does not want to perform the training himself, there are numerous resources accessible for them to choose from. For instance, they could hire in local health and safety organizations, including truck manufacturers, the National Safety Council local chapters, or private training consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are often local trade and vocational schools which will be very happy to provide some great resources.
There are lots of websites on the Internet which are dedicated to forklift safety. Private companies can be found online which offer lift truck safety training services, like videos and written programs. Nearly all safety videos could either be rented or leased or purchased. One vital factor to consider is that simply by showing your employees a video or a series of videos on lift truck safety, does not meet the full requirements of the OSHA standard. Succeeding training and knowledge of the new drivers should be conveyed and evaluated by a specific way in order to make sure that the complete training has been acquired.
When the operator has successfully passed all of the required training, a lift truck certificate would be issued and they would legally be able to operate a lift truck. Valid lift truck licenses are a requirement by organizations so as to keep everyone at the workplace really safe.