2Start with a site visit. Fischer emphasizes that the first step for any trainer developing a program for a spe- cific client is a site visit. Because conditions can vary
markedly from one operation to the next, it’s important for
the trainer to “talk to the customer, get an idea of the issues
and obstacles—the danger points,” he says.
Brad Halcom, a certified safety and operational trainer for
FLS, adds that site visits offer an opportunity for the trainer
to gather information on the composition of the fleet, what
shifts it operates, and the qualifications of operators already
working in the facility so it can design a program that
addresses the customer’s specific needs. “We have a different
course for each [vehicle] classification,” he says. (Industrial
vehicles are divided into seven classes based on a number of
operating criteria.) “We find out what they use. Each
machine has its own application and capacities. While
they have some overlap, you have to be specifically
trained for the manufacturer and the machine.”
apply across a range of equipment—like the dangers of
speeding, safe load handling, and awareness of pedestri-
ans—then move on to site-specific information. “In the
classroom, we address the ideas, concepts, and theories that
affect a variety of vehicles,” he says. “It gets more complex
when we look at the operational side of it.”
3Ensure the program is thorough. Lift ruck operator training is about far more than just starting, driving, steering, and manipulating the forks. An
effective program should also
cover “off the truck” activities
like pre-shift inspections and
safe battery handling.
For example, the program
offered by J.J. Keller Business
Services, a consulting firm that
specializes in regulatory and safety
compliance and provides on-site training,
includes an overview of OSHA regulations, daily inspections, training on inclines and ramps, operating in hazardous environments, loading and unloading, fuel handling
and storage, battery safety, stacking and manipulating
loads, safe storage of material, negotiating sharp turns, and
pedestrian traffic.
5Provide the time, space, and vehicles for hands-on training. Although the basics can be covered in the classroom, there are some things that can only be
learned on the equipment, says Cox, who has worked in lift
truck training for 15 years. Safe load handling and maneu-
vering fall into this category, he says. “You give [trainees]
the opportunity to observe an experienced person, then
some time to operate and practice on their own.”
As for the equipment used in the training,
Cox emphasizes that it’s not enough to
simply train drivers to operate a specif-
ic class of vehicle. Because of variations
in design from one make of vehicle to the
next, it’s important that they receive train-
ing on the specific brand of truck they’ll be oper-
ating. “You cannot assume that if you can drive a
Raymond truck, you can just get on a Crown,” Cox says.
And it’s not just the make and type of truck that matters;
the model matters too. Even within brands, new or upgraded models of existing trucks may require some vehicle-spe-cific training.
4Provide time for classroom instruction. Classroom instruction can vary from a few hours to a full day, depending on the specific requirements of an operation, the size of the class, and the experience of the operators. Classes typically contain both new operators and experienced drivers taking instruction for the mandated recertification, Halcom notes.
As for the classes themselves, Halcom says he uses a variety of media in his classroom sessions, including safety
videos, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, and printed
material. Topics covered in FLS’s training classes include
accident prevention, driving skills, fueling and charging,
inspecting the truck, load handling, pedestrian hazards,
dangers of complacency, and dock hazards.
Steve Cox, an instructional designer for Raymond Corp.,
says his company’s classes begin with basic concepts that
6Evaluate and certify. “You need to have some kind of evaluation of the operator’s skill,” says Cox. That requires an evaluator who is not shy about stating
that a would-be lift truck operator is not up to the job.
It’s important to note that while professional trainers will
offer all the components of a program, including a formal
evaluation, the actual certification is up to the employer.
7Train pedestrians, too. Lift truck operators aren’t the only workers at risk in a busy DC. People working around these vehicles face hazards as well. To reduce
the risk of accidents and pedestrian injuries, some programs, like the one offered through Raymond’s dealers,
include specific safety training for dockworkers and others
who work around lift trucks but do not operate them. ;
Editor’s note: For the full OSHA standards, go to
www.osha.gov. Click on “Standards,” search for “Forklifts,”
and click on the link for “1910.178 Powered Industrial
Trucks.” Training is specifically addressed in paragraph “l.”
