Like death, taxes, and yet another episode of Survivor, lift equipment operator training is inevitable.
Federal and/or state regulatory agencies already mandate training and certification of forklift operators and in some instances, crane operators as well. In addition, training for aerial lift operators is detailed in several ANSI/SIA standards which, in turn, are referenced by OSHA. Training has got to be done, there is simply no choice.
However, there is a choice to be made in deciding how compliance with training regulations and standards will be met; will it be internal or external training? Both have their pros and cons that revolve around the equipment, the workplace, and the application. Let’s take a look at some of the issues around both types of training and get a bit of insight as to which is best for your specific situation.
First, we will look at external training. This is done by sending you operator trainees off site to receive training from an independent training provider. For the purpose of simplicity, we will assume that any independent training provider is legitimate and fully qualified to perform the work.
PROS
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CONS
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| Non disruptive. Since the training is delivered off site it will not interfere with the normal flow of things in the workplace. |
Equipment specific training will not be achieved. This is no small matter, particularly with forklifts and aerial lifts where certain (regulated) criteria are required that specifically address the type of equipment used and in some cases, even the make and model. |
| No equipment required. The training provider supplies the equipment which means the equipment at the workplace need not be taken off line and allocated toward training. |
Site specific training will not be achieved. Just like equipment specific items, site specific items focusing on issues relating to local hazards and the job application must be addressed. |
| No additional personnel required. Other than the trainees, no other personnel need be removed from their normal duties to train or supervise. |
Regulatory compliance will not be achieved. Since most federal and state regulations include some kind of wording that directly or indirectly mandates site and equipment specific training, it is unlikely that external operator training will get you where you need to be. |
| It’s easy. If all goes according to plan, the trainees will go away, receive their training and come back trained and (hopefully) qualified. |
Additional training will be required. For the reasons noted above. |
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External providers often feel pressured to “pass” trainees that may be less than adequate in order to keep the client happy. |
Now, what about internal training? There are two formats by which internal training may be delivered; 1) Have an independent training provider come on site or, 2) Train in-house personnel to train operators.
PROS
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CONS
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| Equipment specific training possible. |
Disruptive. Training interferes with production. |
| Site specific training possible. |
Resources required. Equipment and trainer must be dedicated to training. |
| Job specific training possible providing that the trainer is familiar with the jobs to which operators will be assigned. |
Investment required. Trainer will likely need training. |
| Higher level of detail possible in all areas. Since an in-house trainer will probably not feel pressured to keep the “client” happy, he or she can spend more time in key areas. |
Trainer may not always be available due to work load or may move on to another job or company. |
| Flexibility to address ongoing training needs in house such as turnover, re-certification, etc. |
Trainees may not respect trainer for various reasons. The person or people chosen to serve as trainers must be selected very carefully. Personality traits, the ability to communicate clearly and the soft (people) skills required to do this type of work effectively must abundantly present in any potential trainer. |
| More personal attention and/or time to train possible. Greater scheduling flexibility because the trainer is not an independent business with other commitments. |
Trainer may become difficult and/or unreasonable. It has been known to happen when certain individuals gain a particular skill that they expect to be compensated above and beyond the norm in exchange for it. Again, potential in-house trainers must be selected carefully! |
| Ongoing maintenance of training enhanced. The supervision and monitoring of operators after the delivery of training is greatly enhanced. |
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| Less expensive in the long term. Over the years, the initial cost of formally training in-house personnel to train operators is offset by the number of operators they train without the need to engage an outside (external) provider |
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I am sure there are many more pros and cons that you could come up to add to these lists but in the end, selecting the type of training product that works best for you is not much different than selecting any other product. You just need to carefully consider what exactly it is that you needs. A simple “Mom and Pop” shop may view external training as the greatest bang for the buck while a large corporation most certainly will not. Once you have identified your specific needs, the usual factors of price, time, quality, and value will ultimately drive your decision.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
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