LIFT TRUCKS
materialhandlingupdate
steps to
effective7
forklift
training
An effective driver training program is critical to a safe, efficient,
and legal DC operation. Here’s a look at what’s involved.
IT MIGHT BE SAID THAT LIFT TRUCKS, SO ESSENTIAL
to distribution center operations, are only as safe and productive as their operators. But how can you ensure your
drivers are competent to operate a forklift safely? What sort
of training should you provide?
At a minimum, any training program has to meet federal
requirements. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) regulations specify what topics
must be covered by a driver training program (essentially, a
blend of “how-to” operating basics and safety information
tailored to the specific site). They also stipulate how that
instruction should be provided and when employers must
send drivers for refresher training.
As for who can provide that instruction, training is available from a variety of sources—packaged training programs, training from dealers and third-party consultants,
and in-house instructional programs. But even if it hires an
outside party, the employer itself is ultimately responsible
for ensuring its drivers receive proper training. Lift truck
training specialists say there are a number of steps companies can take to assure they’re offering a sound program.
Here are a few pointers:
1Check the credentials. Before bringing in an outside firm, make sure the trainer is qualified, both by expe- rience and on paper. Jeff Fischer, owner of Florida
Lift Systems (FLS), a Toyota dealer that has a full-time
training specialist on staff, urges customers to check trainers’ credentials to ensure that they are certified. (Most
major lift truck manufacturers and a number of third-party
training organizations offer to certify trainers who complete their programs.)
Be wary of a training firm that contends it can walk in the
door with a one-size-fits-all training program, Fischer
warns. Since OSHA rules require training to be both specific to the vehicle and to the application, it’s unlikely any one-size-fits-all program would meet OSHA requirements, he
says.
