Lift trucks are extremely dangerous machines. Data by OSHA show that around 100 warehouse workers are killed each year in forklift mishaps while they are operating them. An additional 95,000 workers are injured on the job each year too, using 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 last but not least, getting hit from falling objects due to a dropped load is the last statistic. Every injury or death is quite terrible and frightening due to the immense weight and capability of these machines.
Who Must Conduct the Training?
All training and assessment for forklift operation has to be taught by correctly trained instructors. These trainers should have the experience and knowledge to train potential operators the required skills to evaluate their competence afterwards. Several examples of a skilled trainer include a person who has a license, professional status or certified degree in their possession, or who has extensive training, knowledge and experience with forklifts. A good candidate has a lot of practice and has demonstrated the ability to teach and assess industrial truck operators.
If the employer does not want to perform the training himself, there are numerous resources available for them to choose from. For instance, they can hire in local health and safety organizations, including the National Safety Council local chapters, truck manufacturers, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are often local vocational and trade schools which would be very happy to offer several great resources.
There are many websites on the Internet that are committed to forklift safety. Private companies can be found online that offer forklift safety training services, like written programs and videos. The majority of safety videos can either be leased or rented or purchased. One vital factor to take into account is that simply by showing your workers 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 has to be conveyed and assessed by a specific way so as to ensure the full training has been acquired.
When the operator has successfully passed all of the required training, a forklift certificate will be given and they will legally be able to drive a forklift. Valid forklift licenses are a requirement by organizations to be able to keep everybody at the workplace really safe.