OSHA forklift training
62OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is the organization which is responsible for creating rules and regulations with regards to the safe operation of powered industrial trucks.
These machines are also known as electric forklift trucks, electric pallet jacks, forklifts, etc. One of the most important aspects of making sure that your employees are safe is to provide adequate training. You can also purchase training curriculum online, if you do not already have an in-house forklift training program.
Developing a training program can be quite time-consuming. Before you start creating your training curriculum, make sure that you review and become familiar with all applicable OSHA standards. The first step is to identify potential candidates which may need training. For example, certain operators may have primary responsibility that do not involve using forklift trucks however they may occasionally need to operate them. Because there are so many different types of forklift trucks, you need to make sure that you are creating a program which is geared towards the machines you will be using in the warehouse.
Some of the reasons why you may want to consider refresher training may include: if your forklift truck operator has been involved in an accident, if your forklift truck operator has been observed performing unsafe procedures, or if your forklift truck driver is going to be using a different type of machine. In addition to training, it is also very important that you create written performance evaluations for each individual electric pallet jack truck operator.
Some of the areas in which you should take into account when creating your training curriculum include factors such as whether or not your forklift operator has any prior skill or operating knowledge, the exact type of powered industrial trucks which are going to be used in your warehouse, along with any specific hazards which might be present in your warehouse.
Specific hazards you need to look out for include overhead obstructions, areas where you may have excessive pedestrian traffic, and areas where the ground may not be very smooth. In certain cases you may also want to create a refresher safety training course as a supplementary teaching aid. It is important for you to have this information handy, in case you need to retrain any forklift operators.
Make sure you understand that not all forklift operators will require the same type of training. Training program should be customized based on the prior experience level of each and every individual forklift truck operator.
Creating a written performance review will allow your forklift truck driver to be actively involved in the training process. Keep in mind that training is a continual process, and that something can be learned from every single training session.
Here are some additional resources if you are looking for extra information on forklift training.
