Now that the time has come to train your groups of forklift operators, and you might be wondering how to give them the training in such a way that’s not only cost-efficient but effective as well.
Remember that OSHA does require employers to train their operators to ensure that they are capable and certified to operate the equipment. This requirement is in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 standards where you can fully read here.
For companies with a large fleet of forklift operators, training and certifying them does take a considerable amount.
Spending in this aspect is a regular occurrence and employers can’t limit expenses in this matter as it is their duty to comply with that necessity.
In this article, we will be giving you some cost-efficient ways and ideas so that conforming to this OSHA requirement can come gently in your pocket.
Here are the ways you can do to save time and money.
#1 - Appoint a Person from the Fleet to Become the In-House Trainer to Train Unlimited Number of Operators
To read through the 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) of the above-stated OSHA standard, it states “All operator training and evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.”
Assigning a reliable person from the organization to become an in-house safety trainer of the company is I think the most economical way. This is because employers don’t have to arrange a training course and send away the operators to attend the class that can result in manpower downtime. The training can be conducted by the in-house trainer himself on site instead.
In order to appoint someone, that person must undertake first a relevant training such as the Forklift Train the Trainer Course. You can contact a training provider of such as a course, and here is the online course we highly recommend, click here to find out more.
Training the operators can be time-consuming and costly. The simple solution is to have an in-house trainer to do the work inside the company. A good in-house trainer for your business is a critical step that will help you reach your goals.
Aside from assigning a competent person, you will also need training materials such as operator cards, certificates, hands-outs, checklists, training videos, you can buy an OSHA-compliant training kit, click here to see the price on Amazon.
#2 - If the Group is Relatively Small, Online Forklift Training Course Might Be Ideal
With the inception of online training and the advancement of the internet, no wonder that safety training for operators can now be done online. It is convenient and cost-effective as well as it can be done in the convenience of home or office at the desired pace.
Upon successful completion of online training course, students can also receive an operator card and certificate very much the same when attending an in-person. But let us remind you, additional hands-on exercises will be required in order for the trainees to get certified.
If you think, online training suits your requirement, contact a provider of online training courses; if you’re looking for one, this provider is what we suggest, click here to find out more.
Employers can save a great amount of money by providing online training to their forklift operators as they do not have to be sent away to attend the class at the training school.
#3 - Hire an Outside Trainer to Conduct the Training at Your Own Worksite
If the above option doesn’t suit your need for whatever reason, the other alternative you can take is by hiring an outside trainer to conduct the safety training in groups of forklift operators at the worksite.
If this is the path you want to pursue, well, the very first step you have to do is to contact a training provider (it can be a vocational school or an equipment supplier) near your location. You can easily find one, just browse through our directory/listing, select the state where you’re located in the menu below or beside this page, there you can find the listings.
On-site training is perhaps a suitable way to address several issues of the workplace. With it, the course outline can be modified in such a way that it better suits with the workplace condition, type of forklift being used, and behavior of the workers.
The on-site training can be arranged by the employer at a specified schedule or time frame. We recommend conducting the on-site training when the business is at a high peak so that the trainer can recommend safety measures to alleviate accidents in such busy times.
Other Importance of Group Training
• Just like we’ve talked about, training forklift operators in a group can save a great amount of time and money. A number of operators can take training in one session with that, the time for all of them to be trained is considerably decreased, thus there will more time for the employer to focus on other aspects in running the business.
• Training in a group is a fun and enjoyable way to learn. When in groups, operators can participate more actively in the lectures arousing the interest of every student in the class. With that, more topics are discussed and more lessons are learned.
• Group training is difficult to beat when it comes to increasing your knowledge and skills in a short amount of time. Whether it’s at the site, in the classroom or during an online training session there will always be someone present that is willing to give you valuable feedback that will help you grow and improve.
• In group training, camaraderie develops. You will develop a sense of community with other people who share your goals. You make friends and work alongside others.
To Make a Conclusion
Have you ever wondered whether you need forklift training for your workers? It is important to provide this to the operators, otherwise, you are risking the safety of the workers. It is ideal to train them in a group, you can save a lot of time and time in doing so.
Training a group of forklift operators is not an easy task. You need to choose the right way that suits your capacity. If you’re going to choose, have an in-house trainer that can supply the training whenever the needs arise.
