In this Spring 2004 IVES Update Newsletter edition we’ll cover some company news, a question on pallet jacks, our new stability pyramid training aid, details on the evaluation process, some instructor IQ questions and more.
Business as Usual
2004 is shaping up to be an exceptional one at Ives. An upswing in the national and world economies combined with recent developments with our affiliates have created a healthy environment for growth.
We have recently acquired new training facilities in Tukwila, WA and Ontario, CA and are looking at adding more in Colorado, Oregon, Texas, British Columbia and Ontario. We have also added a new Stability Pyramid Model to our growing line of training aids. We have every reason to believe that this growth will continue and have plans for the addition of more products and services as the year rolls on.
As we continue to grow, our guiding philosophy will remain as it has for the past 23 years — to offer the highest quality training and training material at a reasonable price, and to service our clients and instructors with unparalleled ongoing support. Over the years, we have upheld these principles while training more than 10,000 mobile equipment instructors for over 4,000 companies. In turn, those instructors have trained an incredible 430,000 operators. The significant level of detail and hands-on activity associated with the Ives training system is what truly separates us from others. It gives our customers the peace of mind that comes with a high degree of regulatory compliance and decreased exposure to the legal liabilities related to damage and/or injury-producing incidents involving powered mobile equipment.
Our commitment to a high set of standards is our signature. Over the years we have been approached by those who would insist we “water down” the content of the programs in order to get it done faster, preferring speed over accuracy. Our position has always been, that anything worth doing is worth doing right. In our business, if the necessary time to do things right is not taken, the results can be tragic. Not only does it put people’s lives at risk, it also compromises our integrity and credibility. At the end of the day, the one factor that separates us from the rest is our dedication to doing things right.
The value of any given product or service usually revolves around the issues of price, time, and quality. The priority that the buyer places on each of these elements will determine the value of the item to them. In either case, each person’s perception of value is what ultimately justifies the price. Overall, our pricing structure is very competitive and, in some cases, can be more economical than that of other providers. The very quality of our training and training materials speaks for itself.
Most of you reading this are Ives trained instructors and know what it takes to do things right. Still, we all must be wary of things that sound too good to be true, because they usually are! Be wary of the one-day equipment instructor “certification” program or the four-hour operator program that can “certify” 20 operators. Trainees should leave a program with knowledge, skills, and ability, not gimmicks and toys.
The knowledge, skill and overall understanding of any trainee can only be determined through training, practice, and evaluation. A qualified instructor must carry out each of these components and, of course, there will be a certain amount of hearing, seeing and doing required on behalf of the trainee. To do this properly, whether it is in training trainers or operators, one thing is constant: a significant amount of time to do it right must be invested. The main issue here is “doing it right!”
Ask Bob
Bob,
Can you tell me the proper way a walkie pallet jack should be driven? Where does the operator need to be standing, which hand does he need to be using, or does he need to use both hands? We have run into a little trouble. Please let me know.
– Theresa
Hello Theresa,
There really are no “etched in stone” operating procedures addressing this. However, ANSI/ASME Standard B56.1–2000 offers some guidance. The standard states:
5.3.20 – Motorized hand truck operation requires special safety considerations as follows:
(f) be cautious of traveling in reverse (load end leading) due to steering characteristics;
(j) always place both hands on the control handle when operating with the load end leading;
(k) always operate with one hand on controls, and when possible, walk ahead and to the side of the tongue when traveling forward (load end trailing);
(l) enter elevator or other confined areas with load end leading;
(m) operate on grades with the load end down grade. If the load restricts visibility, or requires the load backrest to retain the load, travel down the grade with the load end up grade, with the operator positioned off to one side as per para. 5.3.20(k).
As these are standards and not regulations, they are not mandatory, but regulatory authorities would consider these to be sound operating principles along with any manufacturer’s recommendations.
Hope I have helped.
Bob
New Training Aid!
Having difficulty getting the stability pyramid concept across to your forklift operator trainees? Do most of your drawing attempts end up looking like abstract art that would make Piccasso shudder? Well, if, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, then this stability pyramid model is worth a million!
Help your trainees get a mental image of how stability is affected by things like motion and mast height with this three-dimensional model that includes such features as:
Heavy-duty welded steel construction.
Those of you that have used models before know that they do not hold up well under constant use. Not this one! Steel wire construction and welded joints will ensure that this model stands up to the rigors of everyday use.
Working rubber wheels. One additional feature that you will find with this model that you may not find with others is that it comes equipped with rubber tires that are fitted to wheels that actually turn.
Synchronized mast and center of gravity. As you raise and/or tilt the mast, a weight representing the center of gravity moves with it. This is a particularly useful feature in that it physically depicts a concept that many trainees find difficult to grasp.
Pivoting rear axle. The main reason that forklifts are constructed on a triangular base is that it allows the rear (steer) axle to pivot (oscillate), ensuring that the wheels stay in proper contact with the ground. The pivoting rear axle of this model will allow you to clearly display this to your trainees.
If you are like most instructors out there, you will agree that anything that illuminates key training points and enhances the learning experience is a worthwhile addition to your training aid collection. For more information about the stability pyramid model or to order yours today, contact Ives at 1-800-643-1144.
The Evaluation Process Continued: The Paper Shuffle
I don’t want to beat this issue to death here, but I will anyway: the documentation of the training IS the training!
Now that we are truly at the documentation stage, extra care and attention is due. Your attention to detail is vital (no pressure though!).
What you should have at this point is:
- A completed Operator Theory Test with a minimum score of 70%
- A completed Operator Practical Evaluation Form with a minimum score of 80%*
- An Operator Compliance Package that contains:
- A Certification Folder (a file folder for holding all of the paperwork)
- One theory test
- Two evaluation forms (just in case you ruin one)
- A Certificate of Completion (8 1⁄2 x 11)
- An Operator Wallet Card
- A Record Sheet (the back leaf of the Compliance Folder)
- Your Instructors Certification Log (page #6–19 of your Instructor’s Manual)
* Remember there should be no X’s recorded in the “Basic Operating Procedures” section.
The first thing to do is to finish the Practical Evaluation Form. After you add the operator certification number (3rd line down on the left) and theory test score (5th line down), give the form a once over to make sure all your “i’s” are dotted and your “t’s” are crossed. Next, complete the wallet card and certificate of completion. They both require you to fill in the same information like names, dates, equipment, etc. Be sure to list the equipment type on the back side of the wallet card.
The Record Sheet that is the back page of the Certification Folder is next. Once again, the information required involves names, dates, and equipment types, but it also requires test results, locations and applications. Although applications are usually listed in general terms, locations are specific (e.g., warehouse, yard, loading dock, etc.) This is important, because the location information falls under the “practical” section of the record sheet, and since the practical evaluation must be conducted at the work site, it must be specific. Do not forget to record any appropriate comments on the record sheet as well.
Lastly, you will enter the required information in your personal log that is located in your Instructor’s Manual. This is an important step, as regulatory authorities love to see logs. Once all of this is done, take a photocopy of everything for your personal file and submit the originals to the employer of the operator. They should file the documentation appropriately.
There, that wasn’t so bad was it? If you think it was, you should see how bad it could get when you don’t do it!
— Robert Vetter, Managing Director
Someone We Will Dearly Miss
On January 2, 2004, long-time Ives instructor Don Black passed away due to complications arising from brain surgery conducted in December 2003. I want to share with you the kind of instructor, and man, that Don was.
Those of you that were lucky enough to be trained by Don know what kind of instructor he was; those of you who were not missed a real special experience. He joined the Ives group in the early 80s as a part-time instructor and turned full- time almost immediately. He specialized in heavy equipment: cranes, dozers, front-end loaders, etc. He conducted training in such extreme locations as the Marshall Islands, British Guiana, South America, Alaska and all points in between.
Don’s relationship with the rest of the Ives staff was excellent. He always had time for anybody with a question. To our more recent instructors, he was a mentor, a passionate trainer that always gave people the time to learn properly. To his family, he was a loving husband, a strong and fair father and as soft a grandfather as any child could hope for. In one way or another, he improved us all.
As we look back on Don’s life, each of us will miss him for our own individual reasons, but all of us will know that we have lost a friend, mentor and a shining example of a great man. However, we will never lose our memories. God speed, Don
– Colin M. Ives
What’s Your Instructor IQ?
What could have been done differently to prevent these situations from happening?
We need to be cognizant of our surroundings, not just focusing on recognizing the immediate hazards within our environment, but focusing as well on those hazards that are not immediately recognizable.
2004 FORKLIFT RODEO
Do you think your pretty hot stuff on a forklift? Well now is your chance to lay it down and measure your skill against others in open competition.
Every year as part of the Washington State Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Conference, several forklift rodeos are held. Operators of counterbalanced forklifts from all walks of industry come together to compete in three regional rodeos. The winners of each advance to the final event to compete for the coveted title of State Champion.
The three preliminary events are:
- Central Regionals – June 5 2004 Wenatchee, WA
- Eastern Regionals – July 24, 2004 Spokane, WA
- Western Regionals – August 14, 2004 Duwamish, WA
The final championship event will be held at the 53rd Annual Washington State Governor’s Safety & Health Conference on September 29, 2004 in Seattle, WA.
Why not enter yourself or someone else in the competitions, or just drop by and have some fun checking out the festivities?
Visit the Washington Department of Labor and Industries website at: www.lni.wa.gov and click on Safety / Governor’s Safety & Health Conference (under Training) / Events / Forklift Rodeo.
Hope to see you and your company’s cheering section there!
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