Our Winter 2009 IVES Update Newsletter covers A Trainer’s Christmas Story, ANSI A92 news, an Ask Bob question on livening up one’s program, new aerial training materials, silly signs, a testimonial from an IVES Certified Trainer and the very first edible training aid.
A (Trainer’s) Christmas Story
Maybe it’s the houses all alight in their colorful displays. Perhaps it’s the frequent talk of goodwill and peace, or the random acts of kindness in the spirit of the season. Or maybe it’s just the rum in the eggnog. Regardless of the reasons, I can’t seem to help the fact that I get downright sentimental at this time of year. With that in mind, I’d like to share with you a personal experience I had one Christmas Day past that shook me to my core as a safety professional.
It was 1999 and life was good. I was beginning my fourth year as a Staff Trainer with IVES. For years my trainees had been telling me what a great trainer they thought I was. I seemed to be impressing the right people to advance my career and best of all, in March of that year my wife and I had been blessed with our first child – a daughter, and my little angel. In my own little mind, I had started to believe all the good press about me and thought I was quite the hot-shot – a rising star in my own little world. Although I didn’t know it yet, I had become arrogant and dangerously complacent.
One thing that did keep things in perspective for me was the memory of a dear friend I lost to a workplace accident 18 years before. He was taken away literally at the speed of light after contacting an energized power line while working from a rooftop. I thought of him often (and still do), and at this most merry time of year, my memories of him were just a bit more poignant. I wondered what his family, especially his parents, who were hit the hardest by his passing, remembered of him on Christmas Day.
Anyway, that Christmas morning started off with my wife and I exchanging a few gifts. Our most precious gift was buried under a mound of wrapping paper and packaging that she found infinitely more entertaining than anything that was in it. We called friends and family to exchange our best wishes and cheer then ate breakfast and got ready to go over to my in-laws place, about an hour’s drive away.
As we packed the minivan with gifts, a child, the dog, etc., my wife handed me a casserole dish filled with something wonderful that I planned to make disappear later that day. I took the casserole and reached across my daughter, who was belted into her car seat, and carefully placed it on the floor; I didn’t want to spill anything on the spotless interior I had labored so long and hard cleaning the previous day.
The drive was nasty. Blustery wind, snow and icy roads added about 30 minutes to the trip. When we got there we unloaded the minivan in record time. In minutes we were lounging in front of the fireplace enjoying the day. About a half-hour later my wife asked me where I had put the casserole dish we brought. I didn’t recall bringing it into the house so I put on my shoes and ran out to the van to check if it was there.
I slid the side door open and sure enough, there was the casserole dish right on the floor where I had left it. I reached across my daughter’s car seat and grabbed it. As I backed out of the van with the dish in hand, my elbow struck the car seat and that’s when it happened. The car seat moved, more than it should have. I put the casserole down, grasped the car seat and pulled it toward me. To my horror, it came away from the seat. A wave of nausea overcame me as I realized I had never anchored it back in place after I removed it to clean the interior the day before.
In an instant my head was swimming with terrible thoughts. Images of what could have happened if there had been a collision. That Christmas Day could have been the last day of my little angel’s life.
What kind of safety professional was I to make such a basic mistake? What kind of father was I to do such a careless thing? How would this special day be forever tainted by the tragic memory of the scenario that could have played out?
It was then that it hit me, like a piano from a roof – I got a glimpse of what my dearly departed buddy’s parents might be feeling at that very moment. My entire concept of safety was re-arranged within my mind within those 30 seconds that morning. Safety wasn’t a work thing; it wasn’t something you turned on and off like a tap. It was a life philosophy that had to be completely accepted and absorbed to the point of becoming a fundamental component interwoven within the mind and spirit.
As my mind whirled and reeled within this paradigm-shifting moment, I was startled back to reality by the sound of my wife’s voice calling from the house to see if I was alright. Yeah, I thought to myself. Now, I’m alright. I wonder how his parents are.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
Ask Bob
Dear Bob,
Half my guys end up losing interest and even dozing off when I’m doing the classroom stuff. Lots of times I notice they are way back on another page while I am reading the book. How should I bring them back, or better yet, stop them from drifting off to start with?
Howie.
Hello Howie,
First of all, don’t take it too personally when people drift off. They are adults that are used to moving around while they work and when they are forced to sit still for an extended period of time it’s almost guaranteed that their minds and bodies will go into dozing mode.
Based on what you told me about them being on another page while you are reading through the book, my advice is DON’T JUST READ THROUGH THE BOOK! Sitting through a class where the teacher simply reads the book chapter and verse is just plain bo-ring!
Interaction is the key; don’t read through every page, just go to the questions in the book and ask the group for the answers. If there are questions or confusion about the answers, direct the group to the specific page with the text that addresses the question and review it. Then move on to the next question. Move your questions around the room and ask lots of them but never ones with a yes or no answer. For example, “Can anyone tell me what would happen if…” If nobody answers pick someone; “Joe, what do you think would happen if…?” Follow the answer with something like, “Frank, do you agree with what Joe said? Why? Why not?” Asking lots of questions in a non-threatening way gets people engaged and they are far less likely to drift off if they know they will be involved.
Also, use visual training aids, take frequent but short breaks and keep the room more cool than warm. If you can break things up by getting out to the equipment for a walk through of a pre-use inspection halfway through the review of the book, do it – it will get them moving. Don’t forget to ask lots of questions out at the machine too. Get then involved!
Bob.
Accident Reports
Ontario Company Fined $90,000 For Health And Safety Violation
A supplier of oil purification systems based in the province of Ontario, Canada was fined $90,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in the death of an employee.
A worker was using a large forklift truck to move a fabric bag containing clay that had been removed from filter cylinders when the forklift tipped over onto the driver’s side. The worker jumped off the forklift and tried to outrun it as it tipped, but was unable to get clear of the equipment and was struck on the head by the forklift’s [overhead guard] and pinned under the cage. Co-workers attempted to lift the forklift off the worker using another forklift while waiting for emergency officials to arrive, but the worker died.
An investigation found the worker was not trained in the use of a forklift and, as such, was not authorized to drive it. However, a company rule that only trained workers were allowed to operate the forklifts was not strictly enforced and, on occasion, the deceased worker drove a forklift. Access to keys for the forklifts was not controlled. On the afternoon of the incident the worker drove the forklift into a snow pile while attempting to set down the bag. The forklift’s front wheel contacted a curb, causing the forklift to tilt towards the driver’s side. The bag swung on the forks and the forklift tipped.
The company plead guilty, as an employer, for failing to ensure that the forklift could only be operated by a worker who was authorized to use it. The court imposed an additional 25 percent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
Interesting that the government of Ontario considered this a criminal act. – Ed.
Loader Operator Ejected And Killed
A skid steer loader operator was ejected from the loader’s seat and crushed under its bucket. The 20-year-old victim had been working for a residential construction contractor, as a laborer and skid steer loader operator for two weeks. The victim was working at a new housing development site operating the skid steer loader to move dirt and level a small area in preparation for landscaping the yard.
He was observed operating the loader at a rapid speed with the bucket raised and full of dirt. A short while later a worker found the victim unresponsive under the bucket of the loader. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared deceased. An investigation determined that the victim, who was not wearing the provided seatbelt, had been ejected from the seat of the skid steer loader and was crushed under the loader’s bucket. The victim had not been trained in how to use a skid steer loader.
Vetter Elected to ANSI A92 Sub-Committee
IVES’ Director of Training, Rob Vetter, was recently elected to the ASC A92 Aerial Work Platforms Subcommittees, A92.5 (self-propelled elevating work platforms) and A92.6 (boom-supported elevating work platforms). Vetter’s election comes at a time when there is a lot of activity taking place within the aerial lifts industry.
“It seems that everything [within the industry] is in a state of flux,” Rob remarked. “Virtually every aspect of the design, construction, maintenance, inspection and, of course, operator training relative to aerial lifts is under examination. What’s truly exciting is the SIA’s proposal to OSHA to adopt similar wording to the forklift operator training standard [CFR29-1910.178(l)] for aerial lift operators. It’s still a long ways off, but the torch
has been lit.
Vetter went on to talk about the A92 Committees’ intentions to amend the wording of several existing standards in order to re-direct the bulk of the responsibility of providing meaningful operator training away from lessors and rental companies and toward users of the equipment. These are indeed interesting times within the aerial lift industry, and IVES is well-positioned as a significant contributor to the decision making process regarding its future.
Exclusive New Product – Aerial Lift Operator Familiarization Training Materials
IVES recently released new operator training materials designed to help users of aerial lifts meet ANSI/SIA A92 requirements for operator familiarization training. This training has to be done in addition to general training whenever operators are assigned to operate aerial equipment they are unfamiliar with.
“Right now, this new material is only available on a limited basis for a client with very specific needs,” said Rob Vetter of IVES. “The industry needs this type of program and I am reasonably confident we will be making a version of the program available for general use within the next few months.”
Vetter went on to say that for the most part, only employers or users who operate large fleets of aerial lifts are interested in this type of training since they usually have a lot operators using many different types of equipment. However, it should be noted that familiarization training is not limited to those with large fleets; it must be delivered whenever operators are unfamiliar with the equipment regardless of fleet size.
If you think aerial lift operator familiarization training materials is something you would use in your company contact IVES Director of Training. Rob will also address this issue as a guest speaker at the SAF-T 2009 Web Conference, Dec. 10th at 3:00 pm EST. To register, visit: www.saf-tconference.com.
Silly Signs
Actual signs from around the world that defy logic:
On a blanket:
Not to be used as protection from a tornado.
(For heaven’s sake it’s a blanket not a Sham-Wow.)
In a Japanese taxi:
Safety first please put on your seatbelt prepare for accident.
(Fine, but don’t expect a tip.)
In a country lane:
When you can see this sign the river is under water.
(Maybe someone should tell the river.)
On a carpenter’s drill:
Not intended for use as a dental drill.
(I knew my Dentist was full of it!)
On a bottle of dog shampoo:
Contents should not be fed to fish.
(Unless you have very hairy fish you want to kill.)
On a 12-inch CD rack:
DO NOT use as a ladder.
(If you are considering using your CD rack as a ladder, you should probably avoid ladders altogether.)
At a resort in the Philippines:
Swimming pool suggestions open 24 hours lifeguard on duty 8am to 8pm drowning absolutely prohibited.
(Great, there go my plans for the evening.)
On a cyclist’s helmet mounted mirror:
Remember, objects in the mirror are actually behind you.
(Unless you are actually looking behind then they are….WATCH OUT!!!!)
On a box of birthday candles:
DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity.
(I hope that anyone that would actually do that is not old enough to read the warning.)
It’s a first, an edible training aid!
This photo was sent in by IVES Certified Master Trainer, Brad Norris with the following explanation:
When I cover [instructional techniques] I talk about other [Trainers] who have used all types of visual aids. From these examples two trainees got together that night, went to [a store], and purchased what they needed. I had no idea they were planning this, so when they came in the next day with this I had to take a picture. They did use it when they covered the stability triangle/pyramid portion of their practice presentations.
It makes it all worthwhile…
We received the following submission through our Ask Bob technical support service. We decided to share it here because we thought many of you might relate to, or find inspiration in the pride that this trainer felt as a result of a job well done.
From: Tito Segobiano
Subject: Certifications
Question: I actually don’t have a question Bob, just wanted to say thanks to IVES for my training. I had the pleasure last month of being able to certify my second employee and was just so impressed with his attention to his surroundings during his evaluation and his great respect for the equipment that he was using that I had to write you about it. His attention to safety was exceptional and it was such an honor to me, to be able to certify him. I’m not saying he was perfect, because he wasn’t, however his attentiveness and extreme respect for the forklift was awesome. A very humble young man who knew that what he was doing was dangerous, but if done correctly the danger could be kept to controllable measures. I actually have a picture of him receiving his certification and license if you’re interested. Not sure if you have ever had this happen to you, or if you’ll understand where I am coming from, but I haven’t had it happen and felt is was noteworthy, especially because if it had not been for the IVES training I never would have been able to make this possible for my employees. Thank you so much to IVES and to you Bob, for being there when I was with questions.
Professionally and Sincerely,
Tito M. Segobiano, Safety Coordinator
Straight Edge Staffing
Thanks for this Tito, and yes – I know exactly where you’re coming from on this! – Ed.
What's Your Story?
Do you have an interesting story that you think your fellow trainers might find useful, funny or just entertaining? If so, send it in! IVES has been in the training business for nearly 29 years and we are still learning new things from our own experiences and from yours. Help make the Notes From the Field section of the IVES Update true to its title; by sharing your experiences, it makes us all better. Send your submission to:
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