Proper training

David Hoover, president of Forklift Training Systems, is worried that forklift training is often inadequate. “Many times the driving test amounts to no more than moving some empty pallets around in a parking lot or weaving through a course at a forklift dealership. Most written tests consist of 15 or less questions that the average 10-year-old could easily pass.”

He says, “Businesses that use forklifts must start putting together tougher pass or fail criteria in place that weed out weak operators for more training prior to certification.”

Proper training works this way, he says: “We expect trainees to be able to handle substantially heavy loads and stack as high as they would be expected to in real conditions. We also might require them to load a trailer, use attachments and negotiate a map.”

He also says, “Don’t look for someone such as OSHA to come out with specific pass or fail criteria. It is our job as trainers to make those judgments. There is no guarantee that even well trained operators will not have an accident some time, but at least you can be comfortable knowing that you did your part to ensure they were properly trained and qualified.”