In this edition we'll be covering the following topics:
- Our Feature Article - Lift Truck Tips: Operator training drives more than safety.
- Our new and improved website is launching Monday, September 26!
- Did you know?
- Ask Bob: Our tech guru addresses a question on removing forklift doors.
- IVES' 35th Anniversary Sale: Safety Training DVDs!
- Pre-trial for construction supervisor involved in gas explosion caused by excavator.
- Last chance to register!
- A new What's Wrong With This? Photo and answer.
- A selection of interesting articles.
- New testimonials from our clients.
But first, check out all the places we are delivering training this month...
Lift Truck Tips: Operator training drives more than safety
Whether a company accounts for every penny or hopes for the best, the value of an ongoing training program extends throughout an organization.
Once you get your driver’s license, you are free to zip around the country on any road, in just about any vehicle you like. The only ongoing training involves concepts like the art of drinking coffee behind the wheel and some soul searching to avoid the perils of road rage. Forklift operators—whose jobs resemble a mix of the reliability of a commercial truck driver and the performance of a race car driver—have a somewhat more rigorous training schedule. Hopefully.
“Students and trainees will say what they have to and do what you tell them to get through the initial training program. Where it falls down is after the fact,” says Rob Vetter, General Manager of IVES Training. “Supervisors are often unaware of what is required to maintain proper operator habits and are therefore partially accountable for any incidents that might occur if those habits backslide— which they will if allowed to.”
Supervisors and mid-management are often left out of the training process, Vetter says. This is especially worrisome given their oversight plays such a crucial role in day-to-day safety. They don’t need to sit through the entire training program, but they must be exposed to some of the fundamental theories so they can spot right and wrong behaviors.
Unfortunately, bad habits can also be found at the management levels, where they tend to wait for incidents or other spikes in costs before pursuing a more disciplined or comprehensive training program. Vetter has experience as a forklift operator as well as a purchaser overseeing lift truck maintenance spends. When he noticed steep bills for items like sheared wheel lugs and bent rods, it was clearly a result of abuse and avoidable damage. Similarly, the company’s estimated 3% product damage during handling was closer to 30%.
“Certainly with larger companies that have identified training as a factor in increasing ROI, they are looking at lessening damage to product, equipment, personnel, insurance costs, etc.,” Vetter says. “The value proposition is there, but they sometimes do the right thing for the wrong (financial) reasons.” On the other hand, smaller companies that have not crunched the numbers tend to scoff at more involved training solutions, Vetter says. They do the minimum required, maybe buy an online course and hope any deviations from OSHA standards go unnoticed as regulators focus on the big players.
Vetter strongly recommends companies of all sizes familiarize themselves with OSHA’s powered industrial truck regulations, since ignorance is no excuse. In addition to endangering employees, disregarding the details can sap a company’s performance in other ways.
Source: www.mmh.com
New Website Coming Soon
We are excited to tell you that the launch of our new website will be happening Monday, September 26!
As part of the launch, our website will be unavailable from 2PM Friday, September 23 until 8AM Monday, September 26.
Our new website features the same look and feel, but with tons of new features and functionality, including:
- A fully functional Shopping Cart, making products easier to find and order. It’s easy to use! Simply login, add the items you need to your cart and then checkout.
- A revamped TrainTrak Operator Recertification Reminder System. Now your company, manager and operator information is all tied in with your account which means less typing! We’ve also added functionality so you can view all the records for your location giving you a clearer picture of your operator training.
- A new Personal Profile page in the Member Dashboard allowing you to update your personal information and change your login and password.
Stay tuned for more details!
Did you know?
The answer keys to our Operator Theory Tests and Operator Reference Manuals are available on the Member Dashboard for all IVES Certified Trainers to download free-of-charge?
Get answer keys, pre-use inspection checklists, regulatory documents and more!
Click here to login
Ask Bob
Q: Is it acceptable to remove forklift doors during summer months? Our customer support & service informed operators that this practice is okay as the doors do not add structural advantage and are not required by Toyota.
A: Thanks for asking but your Customer Support and Service (I assume you mean the forklift dealer service rep) are definitely in the correct with that one and they gave the perfect answer. As I always like to say, always refer to MOM! Manufacturer Operators Manual and or your local dealer. Unless the application requires the necessity for the door to be in place as protection for the operator, I see no reason to go against what your rep said.
35th Anniversary Sale: Safety Training DVDs
We are celebrating our 35th Anniversary and are excited to tell you about our upcoming sale...
Our Lessons Learned (English or Spanish) and Forklift Stability Essentials DVDs will be on sale September 19 until October 16.
Order and save 20% on your purchase of these select DVDs! Available for a limited time only. Order between Sept 19 - October 16 to take advantage of this offer.
Place your order online or call 1-800-643-1144.
Pre-trial for Construction Supervisor
A construction supervisor will be headed back to court in October on charges relating to last year’s gas explosion and fire.
A Ministry of Labour spokesperson confirmed to The Intelligencer Tuesday that Eric Terpstra is scheduled to appear in court in October for a judicial pre-trial in relation to two charges laid on March 29, 2016.
Terpstra was charged with two Ministry of Labour charges following the October 2015, explosion in the city’s west end.
He was charged with failing, as a supervisor, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker at a workplace located at 198 Moira St., Belleville.
The first charge is for failing to “take the reasonable precaution of ensuring that the bucket of an excavator did not make contact with an underground gas line.”
The second charge is for failing to “take reasonable precaution of ensuring that the operator of an excavator left a ruptured gas line exposed or made no attempt to control the gas escaping from the gas line.”
The matter is scheduled for an October 6 judicial pre-trial with a return date of October 11 in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Construction crews from Cobourg Development Services Ltd. were working on Moira Street on October 2, 2015, when an excavator hit a natural gas line, just after 11:30 a.m., resulting in a “huge fireball” that damaged one home.
The explosion resulted in the evacuation of 632 homes from a 300-metre radius around the fire. No one was injured.
Source: www.intelligencer.ca
Last Chance Programs
There are lots of programs to choose from, but seats are limited!
U.S.A. Programs
Seattle, Washington
Trainer Recertification Sept 23
Sacramento, California
Loader Group Trainer Sept 26-30
RT Forklift Trainer Upgrade Oct 7
Aerial Lifts Trainer Oct 11-13
Trainer Recertification Oct 14
Salt Lake City, Utah
Premium Forklift Trainer Sept 26-29
Trainer Recertification Sept 30
Las Vegas, Nevada
Premium Combo Trainer Oct 17-21
Irving, Texas
Express Forklift Trainer Oct 17-18
Aerial Lifts Trainer Oct 19-21
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Canadian Programs
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Loader Group Trainer Sept 26-30
Express Forklift Trainer Oct 12-13
RT Forklift Trainer Upgrade Oct 14
Aerial Lifts Trainer Oct 18-20
Trainer Recertification Oct 21
Oshawa, Ontario
Express Forklift Trainer Oct 3-4
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Premium Combo Trainer Oct 3-7
Prince George, British Columbia
Express Skid Steer Loader Trainer Oct 17-18
Express Forklift Trainer Oct 19-20
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Register online or call 1-800-643-1144 to speak to a Customer Service Representative!
What's Wrong With This?
This month we're sharing a photo from Vertikal.net. Can you spot what's wrong with this photo?
Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to us!
What's Wrong With This? Photo
Last month we shared this photo and asked if you knew what was wrong...
The workers should be using an aerial lift or an approved platform in order to lift personnel and not a bucket. The elevated worker is not wearing any fall protection. The machine is not level which makes it even more dangerous for the elevated worker. This situation could easily result in an injury or fatality and there is no reason for it. Use the proper equipment for the job to minimize your risks and get home safe at the end of the day.
Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to us!
Interesting Articles
- Why you'll begin to pay more attention to workplace safety... more
- OSHA: Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program... more
- Fatal boomlift overturn in California... more
- Worker electrocuted when forklift contacts power lines... more
- Construction company hit with $71k fine... more
- 70-year-old man sent to hospital after being struck by forklift... more
- Man killed in loader accident... more
- Man dies in warehouse forklift accident... more
Client Testimonials
"I have worked on and trained employees on these four pieces of equipment and this class will allow me to give our employees so much more!" Judd, Security Fire Protection Inc.
"Very informative. I have a much greater understanding of the 'technical' side of forklift operation now." Tammy, Ring Container Technologies.
"This continues the process of being safe in the workplace and the information I have learned this week is awesome. Thanks for your vision, passion and ability to help others." Philip, ArborGen Inc.
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