steps
to effective
7
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 dis- tribution 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
experience 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.
2Start with a site visit. Fischer emphasizes that the first step for any trainer developing a program for a
specific 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.
