In this Winter 2006 IVES Update Newsletter edition we will talk about our 25th anniversary, a question on pallet jacks, our new Assistant Technical Director, new aerial books, ASME B56 Standards, Recertification materials and more!
Past, Present and Future – It’s All Good!
Looking back on our first quarter century of operation at IVES, we are filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Despite challenges from competitors that don’t seem to show the same commitment to integrity as we do, we have not only survived—we’ve flourished.
Personally, I believe our success has as much to do with the integrity of our clients as it does with our own. Over the years, some, if not all, of our clients have demonstrated that merely meeting the minimum requirement(s) is not good enough, a philosophy that we wholeheartedly share.
Our ability to do this is attributable to clients like you who demand more—like you, we routinely operate on a higher level that we do not consider to be especially remarkable, just business as usual.
Of course, we could not operate at this level without the ability to attract people who were and are, in our humble opinion, the best in the business. Not only are we fortunate enough to have worked with some of the most incredibly knowledgeable trainers, but some of the most gifted communicators and conscientious people in the field. Without the past contribution of such individuals as Brenda Sheen, Ron Elliot, Grant Mackenzie, Wally Adams, Terry Swain, Don Black, and of course Colin Ives himself, the IVES Training Group would not be where it is today.
Today, our present and future could not be in better hands with an office and field staff that often face tough pitches and regularly belt them out of the park: people like Gord Kennedy, Wendy Wiseman, Sue Carlson, Phyllis Williams, Sheena Nunes, Danielle Purdy and Kimberly Forest who consistently go to extraordinary lengths to keep everything on an even keel so that our trainers can go in and get it done like nobody else in the business. That’s when people like Simon Larkin, Jim Crook, Nick Armer, Hugh Devlin, Mike Steigerwald, Sandy Maher, George Irwin, Martin Ridgway and Paul Buehler take over. These Staff Instructors, who are literally the face of our ompany and upon whose shoulders fall the challenge of continuing the legacy of the past 25 years, deliver the finest mobile equipment training of its kind anywhere in the world, a challenge which they meet with unmatched knowledge and skill.
Internally, our General Manager and resident visionary Jim Smith is devising all kinds of ways to improve the efficiency in which we can deliver our products and services and enhance their quality and content, while maintaining the IVES training system as a cost-effective choice for discerning clients like you. He is also exploring means by which we can be more than a training supplier, but your safety partner and manager, as well. This involves systems accessible through IVES and used to efficiently manage the administration of training, and the data management it generates.
On the nuts-and-bolts end of things, Rob Vetter, our Technical Director, is systematically reviewing and revising all of the operator and instructor training programs and materials to make them more accurate, informative, and effective, while maintaining them as the industry standard in an ever growing and increasingly complex industry.
The future holds a lot of exciting, new developments. Here is a brief summary of some of the highlights:
- Electronic visual aids for all of the equipment types we work with.
- Development of new equipment operator training aids.
- Increased stock of DVD titles.
- IVES logo-wear will be made available for the first time in our history.
- General expansion of training products, programs and services.
So as the end of our 25th year draws to a close and we look back at where we have been, where we are now and where we are headed… it’s all good!
Ask Bob
Dear Bob,
Do the same regulations and standards apply to training operators on pallet jacks as they do to regular forklifts?
Judy
Dear Judy,
If the pallet jacks you are using are powered (engine or battery), then yes, absolutely. A powered pallet truck is a class 3 powered industrial truck and, as such, is subject to the same rules as any other type of forklift truck as far as operator training is concerned.
Hello Bob,
I’m confused about what “refresher” training is as opposed to “upgrading” training. Can you help?
Murray
Hi Murray,
I’m not sure where you are getting these terms from, but in my opinion, refresher training reminds the operator of what they should already know from previous training and upgrade training gives the operator new information and adds to his/her knowledge of a previously trained topic. If an operator was involved in an incident or a near miss with equipment they use all the time, for example, I would give him/her refresher training. If operators were asked to use equipment with an attachment they were unfamiliar with, I would offer upgrade training.
What’s Your Instructor IQ?
Test your knowledge by answering the following:
- Why is it important to initial any changes you make to a practical evaluation form?
a) To have on record the name of the person who actually made the change.
b) To indicate for the record that the change was intentional.
c) To indicate that the change was an official one.
d) So that you can be contacted if there are any questions afterwards.
- Which phrase best describes load center?
a) The location of the center of gravity of the load.
b) The single point where an object is balanced in all directions.
c) The area in which the combined center of gravity must remain for the equipment to remain stable.
d) The point at which a forklift is rated to lift a maximum load.
Check out the next edition of the Ives Update for the answers. Good luck!
Answers to “What’s Your Instructor IQ?” (Fall Edition 2006)
- The only time you should stop a practical evaluation before it would normally end is:
a) As soon as the trainee demonstrates further training is required.
b) If the trainee is doing a lot of tasks incorrectly.
c) If it becomes hazardous to continue.
d) As soon as the trainee demonstrates proper operation.
- An important step to take when reviewing a theory and/or practical test with a trainee is to:
a) Ensure that the trainee understands where he/she was mistaken.
b) Conduct the review with the trainee privately.
c) Ensure that criticism is tactful and constructive.
d) Make sure the trainee knows what to do to pass when re-tested.
NOTE: Although all the items listed above are important, item b is particularly so. – Ed.
Simon Larkin Accepts Executive Position
We are very happy to announce that one of our most experienced and popular staff instructors has accepted a new position within the IVES Training Group. Simon Larkin is now our Assistant Technical Director and Chief Staff Instructor.
Simon will be taking over many of the duties involved with the content and maintenance of the training programs and brings a wealth of valuable experience to the position. Welcome aboard, Simon!
New Aerials Books in Stock Jan. ’07
They have been a long time coming, but the newly revised individual and combined operator reference manuals for aerial boomlift and scissor lift have arrived. Each book is well appointed with up-to-date, accurate information, as well as the best graphics in the industry. It will be a bit of a transition for those of you who have used our aerials material in the past, so be sure to give the new books a good look over before using them, and keep an eye on our website for supplemental information that you may need.
ASME B56 Standards Have a New Home
This is old news now, but in case you didn’t hear, as of September 1, 2005, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) transferred maintenance of all the B56 Safety Standards—the ones that address forklifts—to a new entity, the Industrial Truck Standards Developing Foundation (ITSDF). What is not old news is that the ITSDF Standards can be downloaded for FREE from their website at www.itsdf.org.
Forklift Operator “Recert” Materials Revised
Those of you who order a Forklift Operator Recertification Notepad* will find that some changes have been made. We have taken information specific to the recertification procedure out of the Evaluator’s Guide, including the answer key to the operator re-certification theory test, and inserted it into the notepad. We have also eliminated the Evaluator’s Guide from our inventory.
We’re sure that you will find the new version of the Recertifictation Notepad to be a more useful and practical product.
* US version only; revision to Canadian version pending.
Products & Services
Ives is your “one-stop shop” for powered mobile equipment training. We have a comprehensive range of training programs and materials to address your specific equipment and training needs. If you don’t see what you need here, contact us and we will do our best to find it for you!
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Instructor (Train-the-Trainer) and Operator Programs – Our training programs meet or exceed all applicable government regulations and industry standards. Whether you are looking for a training program delivered at your site or at one of our locations, we have the solution to your powered mobile equipment training needs with programs that address the following pieces of equipment:
- Forklifts
- Aerial Lifts
- Loaders
- Mobile Cranes
Instructor Recertification – a one-day refresher program that provides updated technical/regulatory information and solutions to many of the challenges that instructors encounter.
Operator Recertification – delivered at your site, this program keeps your company in regulatory compliance by recertifying your forklift operators as required.
Supervisor’s Program – designed for those charged with the responsibility of maintaining and enforcing regulations and on-site policies of their company’s powered mobile equipment operations.
Instructor Upgrade – for Ives certified instructors wishing to upgrade their credentials and become qualified to train operators of other types of equipment.
Consultations – our site-specific audits and recommendations assist your company in identifying many of the hazards associated with powered mobile equipment operations and in determining practical solutions to address them.
NOTE: All training programs can be delivered at your site.
TRAINING MATERIALS
The Ives Training System provides accurate and up-to-date training materials, many of which are also available in Spanish or French.
Operator Compliance Packages – includes operator workbook, theory tests, practical evaluation forms, certificates and record sheet.
Rigger’s Handbook – a quick reference guide to familiarize mobile crane/boom lift operators with critical information related to rigging.
Trainer’s Guide – an instructor’s reference guide for conducting classroom and practical training, including answer keys to theory tests.
Recertification Notepad – contains enough theory tests, practical re-evaluation forms, record sheet and certificates to re-certify eight previously certified forklift operators.
Evaluator’s Guide – contains guidelines and procedures for conducting forklift operator refresher/recertification training and includes the answer key for the Operator Recertification Theory Test in the Recertification Notepad.
Recertification Study Guides – a condensed version of the original Ives operator workbooks intended for theory review during operator refresher/recertification training. Available for counterbalanced, narrow aisle and rough terrain forklifts, as well as powered pallet trucks.
Instructor Manuals – consists of basic introductory material, as well as detailed information on operator training requirements, instructional techniques, lesson planning, theory and practical training, evaluation skills, documentation and certification. An instructor’s log is also supplied as part of the manual. Equipment-specific supplements are available for all the types of equipment we train on.
TRAINING AIDS
Our selection of training aids and equipment accessories is rapidly expanding, thanks to feedback from our customers — please let us know what else you’d like to see! Watch for more new items in future editions of the Ives Update or log onto our website
Overhead Transparencies – complementing the operator workbook, these transparency sets are now available for counterbalanced, narrow aisle and rough terrain forklifts, as well as powered pallet trucks. Also available in electronic format.
Safety Training Videos/DVDs – reinforces the concepts you train your operators on, with professionally produced videos/DVDs that convey sound principles of safe operation.
Stability Pyramid Model – a three-dimensional visual aid that helps your trainees get a clear mental image of how stability is affected by things like motion and mast height.
Safety Posters, Signs & Stickers – keep safety in the forefront with the placement of posters and signs in your workplace.
Instructor Power Pack™ – designed specifically for instructors of counterbalanced, narrow aisle and rough terrain forklift operators, as well as powered pallet truck operators. Order your training materials and training aids at the same time and save!
Instructor Recertification Power Pack™ – our other great value package of training materials and training aids, this time aimed at the needs of an operator refresher-training program.
Accident Reports
Fatality Costs Chicago Company Thousands
OSHA fined a Chicago company $165,200 after a worker fell from a forklift and died. A maintenance employee fell 12 feet while elevated by a forklift to repair a light. OSHA inspected the plant in January after being told of the fatality. OSHA issued citations to the company for seven alleged violations of federal workplace safety and health regulations. The company allegedly failed to provide a platform secured to the lifting carriage or forks of the forklift and used forklifts that had holes drilled through the forks. Other violations included “unsafe practices of repairing energized equipment and failure to get manufacturer approval for modifying forklifts”.
Widow Left Grieving After Aerial Lift Tip-over
The victim of an aerial lift tip-over will be buried with the wedding dress of his wife of 11 years. “He always wanted to give me everything,” she said. “He was the most generous man I ever knew.” He died when the aerial lift in which he was working tipped over. The victim, 44, wasn’t wearing a safety harness as he worked on fixing the roof of a local high school, police said.
Police and OSHA officials who are currently investigating the man’s employer are unsure of exactly what caused the accident. They said he was operating and riding in the basket of an aerial lift that could rise as high as 60 feet, but it’s unclear if it was completely extended. The lift, which can be driven on four wheels, was on level ground but was near a curb at the time of the accident, authorities said. “It’s only an assumption at this point that it may have gone over the curb, and it was just enough to set the top part tipping over,” the Deputy Police Chief stated.
An OSHA area director commented, “[The operator] was not wearing fall protection or a harness, so it was likely he was shot out of the basket. … It’s tragic. Just so tragic.”
[Fall protection harnesses are more for anti-ejection than fall protection when operating boomlifts. – Ed.]
Team Member Profile: Wendy Wiseman
Wendy joined the IVES team in April 2003. “I was only looking for part-time work but decided to take a full-time position because I was so impressed with the people here and thought the company was very interesting. I guess I have always needed to be in a career that is challenging, interesting and rewarding, and IVES still fits that bill.”
Wendy has indeed taken on and met all of the challenges presented to her over the past three years, as well as the additional responsibilities that come with her current position of Open Enrollment Program Manager. “I source new training locations when necessary, book open enrollment programs, and handle all that’s involved in ensuring our OE programs are successful. Much of my day includes sending program information to customers, coordinating the many details with each training location contact, arranging training material for each program, sales calls to our great customers, and much more—I get to do it all. Still, the best part of my job is hearing back from my customers with positive feedback after they attend an OE program, and knowing our team did the best we could for them.”
Out of the office, Wendy is a proud mom of two boys, ages 8 and 6, and loves being outdoors with them and husband of 14 years, David. “I believe in staying active in every sense of the word, and my career at IVES and family at home keep me busy and happy.” Gardening, running, canoeing, hiking and being with her boys keeps things balanced in Wendy’s busy life.
We Have a Winner!
The winner of our 25th anniversary trip to Disneyland is Kevin Davis of Weyerhaeuser in Cottage Grove, OR. Kevin became an IVES instructor in February 2006 and has a young family that is very excited about their Dad winning and making the trip to the magic kingdom. Congratulations to you and your family, Kevin, and have fun!
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