8 A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO DC VELOCITY
NA TIONAL FORKLIFT
SAFE TY DAY
erful machines, and they can’t check out during
the training,” says Tom Lego, national manager of
training and customer center for Toyota Material
Handling U.S.A. (TMHU). “They must take training
seriously, and they need to understand and respect
the equipment. Operating safely is a responsibility,
not an option.”
As for the training itself, OSHA (Occupational
Safety and Health Administration) rule 1910.178
(Powered Industrial Truck Standard) mandates that
all lift truck operators receive specialized training
by certified instructors. This instruction should
include, but not be limited to, classroom instruction
and hands-on training that is site-specific and is
followed by an exam, says Marty Boyd, vice presi-
dent, product planning and solutions for Greenville,
N.C.-based Hyster Co.
OSHA recommends that new operators undergo a one-day eight-hour operator-training course,
O’Connor says. At its Marengo, Ill., manufacturing plant and parts distribution
center, UniCarriers Americas
uses traditional lectures with
PowerPoint slides as well as
videos that cover specific points
of the training. Instructors then
demonstrate the activities
they’ve just discussed on a lift
truck, and the students perform
that same activity as the instructor guides them through it and
points out where they need
improvement.
In its facilities, Hyster uses
the same safety training and
awareness materials it offers to
customers, including its OSHA-compliant “Best In Class” operator-training program for lift
truck classes I through V, Boyd
says. The program allows trainers to customize the instruction
for the specific facility, environment, and equipment operators
will use, as required by OSHA.
(See accompanying sidebar
for more about the training
resources offered by forklift
manufacturers.)
Because training must be
site-specific, employers are the
ones who certify that the operator has been properly trained.
That’s true even for temporary
workers, says J. Scott Bicksler,
lead safety manager for Aerotek
Inc., a global recruiting and
staffing agency. “It’s important
to remember that forklift certi-
LEARN FROM THE PROS
Industrial truck manufacturers want to make sure customers use
their forklifts safely. Many offer operator-training resources, such
as OSHA-compliant training classes, instructional and informational
videos, and blogs on safety topics. Here are links to just some of the
resources available from a selection of forklift brands:
Clark: www.clarkmhc.com/Safety/operator TrainingGuide and
www.clarkmhc.com/Safety/trainingAidVideos
Crown: www.crown.com/en-us/safety-training/training.html
Hyster: www.hyster.com/north-america/en-us/account-services/fleet-management/operator-and-technician-training/
Kion (Linde, Baoli): http://blog.kion-na.com/forklift-safety-training-tips/ (plus other blogs on safety topics)
Komatsu: www.komatsuamerica.com/our-company/press-
releases/2015-05-20-forklift-operator-training
MCFA (Mitsubishi, Cat, Jungheinrich): www.mcfa.com/en/
mcfa/forklift-solutions/operator-training
Raymond:
www.raymondcorp.com/service/training/forklift-operator-training
Toyota: www.toyotaforklift.com/operator-safety-training and
www.toyotaforklift.com/solutions?q=Safety
UniCarriers: www.unicarriersamericas.com/training/
operator-training
Yale: www.yale.com/north-america/en-us/your-account/
fleet-management/operator-and-technician-training/
