Forklifts are extremely dangerous machines. Data by OSHA show that roughly 100 warehouse workers are killed each year in forklift mishaps while they are using them. 95,000 more workers are hurt on the job each and every year too, using these heavy pieces of industrial machines.
Unfortunately, nearly all of the fatalities are due to forklift turnovers. The second 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 last but not least, getting hit from falling items because of a dropped load is the last statistic. Each and every injury or fatality is quite terrible and frightening because of the capability and immense weight of these machinery.
Who Should Conduct the Training?
All evaluation and teaching has to be taught by people who have the right training, knowledge and experience to train powered industrial truck operators the correct skills and then to evaluate their competence afterwards. Several examples of a skilled trainer comprise an individual who has a certificate, professional status or specialized degree in their possession, or somebody who has extensive training, experience and knowledge utilizing forklifts. A good candidate has a lot of practice and has shown the ability to teach and evaluate drivers of industrial trucks.
If the employer does not want to perform the training himself, there are many resources available for them to select from. For example, they can hire in local health and safety organizations, like for instance truck manufacturers, the National Safety Council local chapters, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are usually local vocational and trade schools which would be glad to offer some great resources.
There are many web sites on the Internet that are dedicated to forklift safety. Private companies can be found on-line who provide forklift safety training services, like written programs and videos. Nearly all safety videos can either be leased or rented or bought. One really important thing to think about 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. Subsequent training and knowledge of the new drivers should be conveyed and assessed by a particular method so as to make certain that the complete training has been acquired.
Once the driver has successfully passed all of the necessary training, a lift truck license would be given and they would legally be able to drive a lift truck. Valid lift truck certificates are a requirement by organizations so as to keep everybody at the workplace as safe as possible.