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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Year:
In the aftermath of an inflationary trend over the past several years that could truly be described as, astonishing, IVES is very happy to announce an across-the-board pricing freeze in effect for 2025. That means you can expect the pricing of all our training materials and programs to remain stable with no increase for at least the next year.
“It’s been a tough haul,” says IVES General manager, Roneel Shankar, “Raising prices is something we’re very leery about because we know how financially challenging it is for everyone right now, businesses and individuals alike. Now that things seem to be settling down and stabilizing as far as our cost of sales go, we can pass that pricing stability on to our clients, which is fantastic.” He concluded.
That being said, there are a few items that may undergo some pricing modifications, as their costs are consistently varying regardless of inflationary trends or other economic drivers, and more closely tied to supply and demand issues. Die-cast model costs, for example, are notoriously difficult to anticipate as the supply of them is terribly inconsistent. Travel costs are also quite variable as airline, hotel and rental car pricing is in a constant state of flux. However, pricing fluctuations in those industries are historically consistent so it’s really business as usual there.
We hope this pricing freeze gives you some peace of mind while looking forward to what’s ahead in 2025 – Happy New Year!
Thankfully, when it comes to forklifts most reputable employers understand the need for basic novice training for new operators.
Given the size and power of these machines, it’s easy to see why this is a recognised requirement.
But what’s just as important is ensuring that any good work done in ensuring an operator understands how and why to work safely is not lost as time goes on.
Indeed, this vital instilling of best practice with regular monitoring and refresher training is where many businesses’ operational safety falls down.
It is human nature that the skills we possess will fade over time if not honed and maintained.
The consequences of this in the case of the operation of materials handling equipment, however, can be severe. If allowed to develop, bad habits and complacency can lead to costly accidents and serious injuries, putting everyone in danger.
Although unsafe operators are a risk to their own safety, with the protection of the truck’s cab and seatbelt they are not the most vulnerable if an accident occurs.
Unsafe operating practice is far more likely to put those around them at risk, whether this is their colleagues, visitors to site or even customers, in the case of premises open to the public.
Aside from the safety concerns, bad practice can also increase stock, truck and building damage and hinder productivity should operations be disrupted or halted, all of which are detrimental to the profitability of the business.
To combat this ‘skill fade’, it’s vital that operators are consistently reminded of best practice and the need to follow it every single day.
A good place to start is implementing a refresher policy to ensure that operators receive periodic training to reassess their abilities and reinforce good driving habits.
In the United Kingdom, this is specified in the Approved Code of Practice for Rider Operated Lift Trucks (L117), with retraining/retesting suggested every three to five years, for example.
(If you haven't heard of the Health and Safety Executive’s L117, you are not alone, as research suggests as few as one in 10 managers in the UK are aware of the definitive guide, but familiarising yourself with its contents is a simple way to ensure safety and compliance within your business.)
To be truly effective, a business’ refresher policy should be based on a thorough risk assessment of its unique operations.
Every workplace is different and this tailored approach is vital to ensure that operators receive the right frequency of training for the type of work they do.
Once established, the policy should be implemented and reviewed to ensure it is followed consistently by all, and that it does not need to be updated over time.
Some training companies can help employers to manage refresher requirements by holding records and issuing reminders to prompt when required training is due.
Whilst having a suitable refresher policy is key, it is important that businesses supplement this with regular monitoring and supervision as additional training may be required outside of these regular intervals. For instance, if an operator has a near miss, has not used trucks for some time or if their working practices or environment has changed.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that even well-trained and experienced forklift operators need regular reminders to ensure best practice is followed daily and complacency is kept at bay.
By proactively ensuring that safety remains at the forefront of your operators’ minds, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on your site.
British Columbia employer Cypress Mountain Resort has been fined $132,000 for the death of one of its workers, according to a report from CBC.
The incident happened on Oct. 3, 2023, when a 26-year-old man was operating a front-end loader.
Suddenly, the front-end loader began moving unassisted down a mountain slope. The operator attempted to regain control of the vehicle as it rolled downhill, but unfortunately, the loader overturned, trapping him underneath, leading to his tragic demise.
CBC News reported that Sgt. Mark McLean says, "He attempted to try to gain control of the vehicle while it was rolling down the hill, and unfortunately, while he was trying to do that, the vehicle overturned on top of him, and he got caught underneath. That caused his death." Despite the efforts of emergency responders, the young man was declared dead at the scene.
Before the incident, the man exited the cab to check on the forklift's load, CBC reported, citing information from WorkSafeBC.
The resort operator, said WorkSafeBC, failed in multiple ways prior to the fatality:
The tragic accident serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks associated with heavy machinery operations.
Posters & Reference Materials are a valuable tool for companies to keep safety at the forefront of their employee’s minds.
Bring safety to the forefront with strategic placement of posters designed to display simple and powerful messages.
Reference materials including ANSI Manuals of Responsibilities and rigging handbooks are an excellent tool for operators to have on hand.
Available for forklifts, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP), loaders and excavators.
Q: I am an Ives certified trainer doing the forklift course for the first time, is there a PowerPoint presentation for the training?
I am providing the training tomorrow and I have the manuals and training packages, but I do not see the presentation on my dashboard.
A: At the end of your trainer program, your trainer covered the training materials and visual aids that you can purchase, besides the compliance packages.
The DTA (digital training aid) is a slideshow that provides visual accompaniment while covering the ORM (Operator Reference Manual).
You can buy it by itself or you can order the Trainer Power Pack that comes with all the models, materials and videos as well.
The DTA can be purchased where you can download it to a single computer (it is then locked to that computer) or you can buy the streaming version and play it from your dashboard on any computer as long as you have wifi access.
"Would recommend IVES Training to any user of industrial equipment. IVES is the “gold” standard."
Robert W, Premium Forklift Train the Trainer Certification
"Program was great. I do not have great computer skills yet I was able to participate easily in the class."
Mark R, Online Trainer Re-certification
"It was great and I learned so much. I am prepared to share my knowledge! I was entertained and educated!"
Emily V, Custom Program Train the Trainer Certification
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