Prince Edward Island (PEI) is experiencing growth in industry and forklift driving talent like yours is in constant demand, you can look for a better and stable job in this field for the future. Forklifts are integral part of doing business by these rising industries. Lift truck related accidents cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of serious injuries every year. Therefore, the widespread use of these machineries requires all operators to get trained first before they could put their hand on the steering.
Be aware of your responsibilities and achieve your competency as certified operator.
In this article, we have provide the basic guide on how to obtain forklift training, the schools where you can take the course and the new standard that must be followed.
How is the Forklift Training Performed?
If you currently contracted by an employer, it is your company who is accountable to supply you the training you needed. The employer shall ensure that forklifts are operated only by competent workers.
Obligate your employer to send you to a school, below are the list of schools in PEI. You can also make a schedule with your internal safety consultant to give you the training.
If you are a novice but do not have previous skill driving forklifts, you can sign up for a course at the nearest school near your location. We’ve provided below the schools in the province where you can enroll. Here’s an article to teach you how to choose the best training school, follow this article.
A good advice for beginner is to determine first the truck you intended to operate, due to the different designs, controls and purpose of the forklifts, the course must be specific to that type of equipment.
Contents:
- The contents of the course include theoretical and practical training. The classroom lecture will last for 4-6 hours depending on the course. At this stage, student will be presented with combination of video presentation and computer based learning. This approach is effective in giving the students much knowledge to learn the skills they needed.
- To test the acquired knowledge of the student, an assessment will be administered in the form of an exam. Here’s an article about how to pass the written test.
- The practice training is on one-on-one basis, so that trainer can focus on delivering quality training to the students. This is the most vital element of the course. At this phase, the trainer will evaluate your competency driving the truck. Here’s a guide about forklift operator evaluation, click here.
- At the end of the course, you will receive photographic ID card (license) and, certificate of completion.
Training schools in Prince Edward Island
- IVES Training – serves US (360-945-1909 ) and Canada (1-888-671-1827)
- JVI Driver Training - Summerside (902) 436-8774, Charlottetown (902) 894-5726
- Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture - (902)368-7289,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ENNIS Safety Service - 902 678 1510,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - PEI Agriculture Sector Council - Charlottetown, 892-1091 or email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Kimber & Tucker Safety Coordinators - serves PEI, NS and NB, call 902.835.9909
Other Areas in PEI
Charlottetown, Summerside, Alberton, Cornwall, Kensington, Montague, Souris, Stratford, Afton, Belfast, Malpeque Bay, Miltonvale Park, Miscouche, North Shore, Tignish, Valleyfield, Wellington, West River, Borden-Carleton, Georgetown, North Rustico, O'Leary, Clyde River, Hampshire, Kingston, Lady Slipper
What Does the New Standard Require?
The new B335-15 - Safety standard for lift trucks is aimed at providing adequate training to forklift operators to reduce the risk of industrial accidents and injury to the operators.
This standard also highlights the basic requirements of the training and qualification of the trainer.
There shall be four key components of the course: classroom lecture, driving demonstration, skill assessment (in the form of a test) and practical valuation. These elements must be covered for every course in order to get the operator fully certified.
The significant change of this new standard is that re-evaluation, classroom training and examination have to be done every three years altogether.
With this new policy, there shall be more responsibility to put more weight in the shoulder of the employer to keep an eye on their operators’ performance and make corrective action if flaws and fault are made. Retraining of the workers should be delivered, even before the three year period, in circumstances like for examples:
- When there’s a new or different forklift trucks presented and operators do not how to operate the trucks.
- When the workplace situations changed. This is usually take place during peak business operation and production has to be met.
- When there’s a new implemented legislation by provincial or federal government.
- When operators are observed lacking skills and involved in such accidents.
The Authorities
For more guidance and assistance about wages, safety and health and laws and standard, you can visit the authorities:
- Government of Prince Edward Island - (902) 368-4000,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.gov.pe.ca - Workplace Safety and Prevention Services – 1-877-494-WSPS (9777), visit website: www.wsps.ca
- CSA Group (Publications, Training & Personnel Certification) – 416 747 4044,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , visit website at: csa.ca - Workers Compensation Board of PEI - 902-368-5680, 1-800-237-5049 , www.wcb.pe.ca
To Summarize It Up
Safety at work is everyone’s responsibility, you as an operator have the obligation to deliver quality job and your employer shall ensure your adequate competency. Follow the standard, implement the action and expect smooth professional career and business operation.
