A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO DC VELOCITY 7
SUPPOSE YOU’VE JUST BOUGHT a new lawn
tractor or snow blower. If you’ve never used one of
these machines before, the logical place to turn for
instruction is the manufacturer. Even if you do have
experience with these types of equipment, there
are enough differences among makes and models
that you’ll still need guidance on how to use a particular machine safely and correctly.
The same principle applies to industrial trucks.
Drivers must know how to safely operate specific
types of forklifts in the particular environment
where they will be working. And, since nobody
knows their products better than the companies
that designed and built them, it stands to reason
that the manufacturers’ own factories, warehouses, and distribution centers would have exemplary
forklift safety records. That’s why we asked several
OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) how they
train their own employees and what they think are
the most effective ways to deliver that training.
Here’s what they told us.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Above all else, the OEMs emphasized the impor-
tance of creating a safety-focused culture. That
means ensuring that everyone makes safety a top
priority and understands his or her responsibility to
provide a safe workplace for forklift operators and
pedestrians alike. That begins with the employer,
who has to provide the necessary training and sup-
port employees need to help prevent accidents and
injuries, says Pat O’Connor, lead service trainer in
UniCarriers Americas’ training department.
Forklift operators have a responsibility to comply
with safety standards and follow the rules and safe
practices they learn during their training, of course.
“Operators have to understand that these are pow-
MASTER CLASS
If anyone understands how to
safely operate lift trucks, it’s the
companies that design and
manufacture the equipment.
A look at how they train their own
employees reveals best practices
any forklift fleet can adopt.
BY TOBY GOOLEY, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
NATIONAL FORKLIFT
SAFETY DAY
