Lift trucks are really dangerous machines. Data by OSHA show that approximately 100 warehouse workers are killed each and every year in forklift mishaps while they are operating them. An extra 95,000 workers are hurt on the job every year as well, using these heavy pieces of industrial equipment.
Sadly, nearly all of the fatalities are due to forklift turnovers. The next highest percentage of fatalities is due to being crushed between a lift truck and another surface. The next highest cause of fatality is being struck by the lift truck itself and lastly, getting hit from falling objects because of a dropped load is the last statistic. Each fatality or injury is quite awful and frightening due to the immense weight and capability of these machines.
Who Should Conduct the Training?
All assessment and teaching needs to be taught by people who have the correct training, experience and knowledge to train powered industrial truck drivers the correct skills and then to assess their competence after that. Some examples of a qualified trainer include a person who has a license, professional status or specialized degree in their possession, or somebody who has extensive training, experience and knowledge utilizing lift trucks. A good candidate has lots of experience and has shown the capability to teach and assess operators of industrial trucks.
There are resources accessible to choose from if their employer does not wish to perform the training themselves. For example, they can employ in local health and safety organizations, including truck manufacturers, the National Safety Council local chapters, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are often local trade and vocational schools that would be very glad to offer some great resources.
There are lots of web sites on the Internet which are devoted to forklift safety. Private businesses could be found online that provide lift truck safety training services, such as written programs and videos. The majority of safety videos could either be purchased or rented or leased. One really vital factor to take into consideration is that simply by showing your workers a video or a series of videos about forklift safety, does not meet the full requirements of the OSHA standard. Subsequent training and skill of the new drivers must be conveyed and assessed by a specific method in order to make sure that the complete training has been obtained.
Once drivers have passed their training requirements, they will be given a lift truck certificate which enables them to operate a forklift. Valid forklift certificates are a requirement by organizations to be able to keep everyone at the workplace really safe.