3 Ways to Think Differently About Your Forklift Training
Effective forklift training takes time. Yes, there are numerous programs out there to make your forklift training better. We’re not talking about the traditional training; we want you to think or look beyond the traditional forklift training. We’ll take a look at some of the obvious…and not so obvious topics for effective forklift training. Let’s get started.
What is Effective Forklift Training?
Effective forklift training is when the teachings are consistently being utilized by the certified forklift operator. However, for this article, effective forklift training can go beyond the forklift operator, it can include workers, outside visitors, and office employees who may not frequent the facility.
Awareness
Awareness is an effective forklift training lesson. Much of the responsibility rests with the forklift operator. However, the question always remains: How can the forklift operator watch the task and look out for pedestrians around the forklift? It’s impossible. That’s why awareness training needs to go beyond the forklift operator and include the workers and any others that enter the facility. People need to understand the purpose of the forklift and have the basics of understanding. Some easy lessons to convey, yet not practiced include:
• Forklifts are not cars
• Forklifts are not built nor act or react like cars
• Forklifts like cars can be dangerous
• Stay away from a moving car…stay away from a moving forklift
• Driving a car is not like driving a forklift
Training Everyone Else
Sometimes the most effective forklift training is training everyone else on the operations of a forklift. This allows the workers, employees and even management on the talents needed to operate the lift truck. Understanding the concentration, coordination and OSHA guidelines needed to lift a pallet will provide the insights needed when working or walking near a forklift. You’re not necessarily hoping that they will remember the intricate details of the training, but if your audience can walk out understanding why it’s vital to stay away from a moving or working forklift…you’ve accomplished a critical goal.
Technology
Investing in a forklift safety system is one of the best ways to ensure safety of the forklift operator and those around. A pedestrian detection and object detection system alerts a driver when a pedestrian is within a predefined distance. This alert will allow the forklift operator to take action so the pedestrian doesn’t get hurt, or the object doesn’t get damaged. However, the forklift safety system should not take away from training everyone else, the combination of the two can significantly reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident.
Telemetry Dashboard
Finally, a great way to identify issues within the facility is through the telemetry Dashboard. This allows managers to understand where impacts are occurring whether it be low, medium or high, as well as near missises. Near misses are the precursor to an accident. If there is a certain aisle, for instance, where near misses keep occurring, you can check if it is a certain forklift operator, or a variety of operators. You can check if its at a particular time of day or night. Maybe taking visit to that aisle where it’s occurring will shed some light on why incidents are happening. By taking corrective action, this will reduce the threat of a forklift accident, in turn eliminates the maturation of the near miss incident.
Learn more about how effective forklift training with technology can help your company.
Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.
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