Lift trucks are really dangerous machines. Statistics by OSHA prove that about 100 warehouse employees are killed each year in forklift mishaps while they are utilizing them. 95,000 more employees are hurt on the job on a yearly basis as well, utilizing these heavy pieces of industrial machines.
Sadly, most 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 forklift 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 death is quite awful and frightening due to the immense weight and capability of these equipment.
Who Must Conduct the Training?
All evaluation and teaching has to be trained by individuals who have the proper training, knowledge and experience to train powered industrial truck drivers the right skills and then to assess their competency after that. Several examples of a qualified trainer include a person who has a certificate, professional status or specialized degree in their possession, or who has extensive training, knowledge and experience with forklifts. A good candidate has lots of practice and has shown the ability to teach and assess operators of industrial trucks.
There are resources available to select from if their employer does not want to perform the training themselves. For instance, they could employ in local health and safety organizations, like for example the National Safety Council local chapters, truck manufacturers, or private teaching consultants who specialize in powered industrial trucks. There are normally local vocational and trade schools that would be glad to offer several great resources.
There are numerous websites on the World Wide Web that are dedicated to forklift safety. Private businesses can be found online that provide lift truck safety training services, like written programs and videos. Nearly all safety videos can either be purchased or rented or leased. One really essential thing to take into consideration is that simply by showing your employees a series of videos or a video about forklift safety, does not meet the full requirements of the OSHA standard. Succeeding training and skill of the new drivers should 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 necessary training, a lift truck license would be given and they would legally be able to drive a lift truck. Valid forklift licenses are a requirement by organizations in order to keep everybody at the workplace really safe.