Forklifts are very dangerous machines. Data by OSHA show that around 100 warehouse workers are killed each and every year in forklift mishaps while they are utilizing them. An extra 95,000 workers are hurt on the job each year as well, using these heavy pieces of industrial equipment.
Unfortunately, most of the fatalities are because of forklift turnovers. The next highest percentage of fatalities is due to being crushed between a forklift and another surface. The third highest cause of fatality 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 death or injury is quite gruesome and terrible due to the immense weight and ability of these machinery.
Who Should Conduct the Training?
All training and evaluation for forklift operation has to be trained by appropriately trained instructors. These trainers must have the knowledge and experience to teach potential operators the required skills to assess their competency afterwards. Several examples of a skilled trainer comprise an individual who has a license, professional standing or certified degree in their possession, or someone who has extensive training, knowledge and experience utilizing lift trucks. A good candidate has plenty of experience and has demonstrated the ability to evaluate and teach drivers of industrial trucks.
If the employer does not wish to perform the training himself, there are many resources available for them to pick from. For instance, they can employ in local health and safety organizations, like for instance the National Safety Council local chapters, truck manufacturers, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are normally local trade and vocational schools that would be happy to provide some great resources.
There are many web sites on the World Wide Web which are devoted to lift truck safety. Private companies could be found on-line that provide lift truck safety training services, such as written programs and videos. Nearly all safety videos can either be leased or rented or purchased. One really important thing to take into consideration 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 operators should be conveyed and assessed by a specific way so as to ensure the complete training has been obtained.
Once operators have passed their training requirements, they will receive a lift truck certificate that permits them to drive a lift truck. Valid lift truck certificates are a requirement by organizations so as to keep everyone at the workplace very safe.