The IVES Update Newsletter is a highly informative monthly e-newsletter. It contains up-to-date industry information, regulatory updates, stories from the field, upcoming program dates, What’s Wrong With This? photos, incident reports, our interactive “Ask Bob” question and answer column, new product details and much more.
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Those of you that use MEWPs know that their operators must receive detailed training, practical evaluation, and make/model-specific familiarization before being authorized to operate one. In addition, if you happened to get a look at the June IVES Update’s lead article, “MEWP Safety Training: It’s not just for Operators”, you also know that Supervisors of MEWP operations must be trained as well. However, the MEWP safe-use chain is not complete until a third, equally important group is properly prepared: MEWP work platform occupants.
Occupant knowledge/instruction is a formal requirement of ANSI A92 and CSA B354 industry standards that calls for Users to ensure that all MEWP occupants have the knowledge needed work safely from a MEWP, including how to use the operating controls to lower the work platform in an emergency. The range of knowledge occupants must have includes understanding of the following topics:
*ANSI standards require only one occupant on the platform to have this knowledge.
The requirement for occupant knowledge makes sense considering how significant an occupant’s movements, work habits and understanding how a MEWP works can have on the stability of the unit. Training operators is a given, training supervisors has massive benefits, and preparing occupants completes the MEWP safe use chain by ensuring everybody who has an influence on the safe use of MEWPs is well prepared and understands their responsibilities.
The IVES team
Those of you that use our popular powered mobile equipment (PME) Digital Training Aids (DTAs) full of useful, visually engaging imagery designed compliment the contents of the PME Operator Reference Manuals (ORMs) will be pleased to see that, based on feedback from the field, we have made a relatively small revision that we think you’ll really like.
All DTAs now include introductory slides at the beginning of each Chapter Review section showing images of the actual pages of the ORM with the review questions about to be covered.
Presently, all the DTAs open to a title frame showing the name of the program, for example, “Standard Forklift Operator Program.” The next frame, which is frame 1.0, shows the title of the ORM Chapter Review about to be covered, for example, “Chapter 1: The Rules.” From there, the Trainer advances through the slides which are arranged to match up with the Chapter Review questions in order.
In the newly revised version, the first two pages in this example are the same. Now, as the trainer advances from frame 1.0, the Chapter Review title page, a new frame with an image of page-15 of the ORM is shown with the title “ORM pg. 15,” which is a visual cue informing the trainees which page they should be on See Example 1, below). As the Trainer advances past frame 1.7 (in this SFL example), the next frame shows an image of page-16 of the ORM. Once again, alerting trainees that they are now reviewing the questions on that page See example 2, below).
Example 1
Example 2
This format continues throughout the DTA, with a frame showing the relevant ORM page before the corresponding Chapter Review questions are covered. Although it may seem like relatively minor change, we think it will make it much easier to keep things organized and flowing smoothly throughout coverage of the ORMs when using the DTA. We hope you agree.
Be sure to check out the tutorial video, Using the Digital Training Aid (DTA)– August 2026, on your member dashboard at www.ivestraining.com. Spanish language versions available soon.
- The IVES team
Proposed penalties of $276,399 have been issued against a contractor after a worker died while operating a modified mini excavator under a school in San Antonio, Texas, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
On January 7, Baltazar Rubio-Olvera was underneath Converse Elementary School operating a mini excavator in which its ROPS structure had been removed and fabricated parts had been added so it could fit inside a crawl space, OSHA reports. The 63-year-old operator was removing dirt from the crawl space when he “became trapped between the equipment and a concrete beam, resulting in fatal injuries.”
OSHA cited employer DL Bandy Constructors Inc. on July 13 with one willful violation for removing the excavator’s rollover protection and for making other modifications. It also issued 15 serious violations for confined-space hazards, including:
Pacesetters Personnel Services, which supplied temporary workers for the project to assist with dirt removal, was also cited for two serious violations. The proposed penalties total $23,170 for failing to ensure required confined-space entry procedures were followed and for failing to provide confined-space training to the temporary workers, according to OSHA.
Bandy has been cited by OSHA in the past, according to online records:
Bandy has 15 days to appeal the OSHA violations for the January 7 incident.
Following Rubio-Olvera’s death, the company posted to Facebook January 19: “We mourn the loss of a beloved team member whose hard work, friendship, and commitment left a lasting mark on all of us.”
Equipment World has reached out to DL Bandy Constructors for comment regarding the violations.
Rubio-Olvera is survived by his partner of 40 years, Julia Cervantes, and three sons.
“As a proud construction worker, Baltazar dedicated his life to building structures that stood as strong and noble as his character,” his obituary says. “His work ethic was unparalleled, and his colleagues admired him for his dedication and skill. Embracing the American Dream, he took great pride in his U.S. citizenship, and his involvement within his community was a testament to his commitment to the principles of hard work and service.”
Q: Hi Bob,
ChatGPT says WorkSafeBC says to lock out forklift if horn is not working (even if we have a motion beep, beeper installed)?
Also what if the horn works, but sometime it's delayed by 1/2 sec?
It works but you have to press in a certain way, does that mean immediate lock-up?
A: Thanks for checking in with us.
In the future, I would suggest that you always reference the applicable regulations and standards directly rather than chatGPT to ensure accuracy. The AI pulls all kinds of information into the answers and may not be applicable to your Province.
You can look at the CSA standards (B335-15: section 4.8.5.1) for the working horn requirements. It basically states you must have a horn that is in working order. If it works off/on intermittently when you depress the button or you have to hit it in different spots to make it work, does not appear that it is in 'working order'. If that is the case, it needs to be repaired immediately.
The CSA B335-15 standard is free to view by registering at, community.csagroup.org.
Bob
"This was the best of several courses I’ve taken recently. Between the well-done binders, workbooks & online resources I don’t think any stone has been left unturned. Every tool for success is already provided"
Jeff N, Premium Combo Trainer Certification
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Cimmaron W, Custom Program Trainer Certification
"I liked the program. We got in depth and covered a lot when we had to but fun and curiosity was also a big part of the program. Highly recommend."
David S, Express Standard Forklift Trainer Certification
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