Common Misconceptions about Forklift Training (and How to Get Past Them)

Training creates a culture of safety that will help forklift operators feel more satisfied and empowered at work. © KOTO – stock.adobe.com

Investing in training can build operator competence, confidence and commitment to the organization.

By: Russell Niedzwiecki, Contributor

You know that forklift operator training … and retraining … are OSHA requirements [see OSHA regulation 1910.178(l)] . Training is more effective when the participants are enthusiastic. Additionally, you need management support for your training budget.

This article will list some of the most common objections to forklift training and give you valuable information you can use in support of training.

Good forklift training helps you achieve what every warehouse manager wants – increased safety, better employee satisfaction and retention, and improved productivity. However, good training costs money and involves taking time out of the working day. Given these facts, there may be people in your organization who raise objections.

If you are facing opposition to forklift training, here are some arguments you may hear – and the facts you need to argue against them.

“WE CAN’T AFFORD IT”

It’s true that training and education have associated costs which can increase as you involve more staff. However, in exchange for this one-time, upfront payment, you get well-trained operators who are much less likely to have accidents that cause damage and injuries. Fewer accidents lowers expenses by saving on repair and service costs for the trucks, keeping worker’s compensation expenses down, as well as minimizing the cost of fixing damage to products, racking and equipment.

“IT TAKES TOO MUCH TIME OUT OF THE DAY”

Depending on the training, a course might fill a full day – time that your staff aren’t working as normal. But as with the monetary cost, this is a one-time investment you’ll get back later, since well-trained drivers can operate their trucks faster and more effectively, moving more pallets over the course of a shift with fewer accidents.

“WE HAVEN’T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, SO WE’RE SAFE ENOUGH ALREADY”

If there’ve been no major incidents lately, good for you and your staff! But beware: it can be easy to get lazy and assume your operation is 100% safe. This attitude can lead to lax and complacent behavior, and that’s when accidents may start happening. Accidents involving heavy machinery can cause life-changing injuries. They can even be fatal. Accidents can be extremely expensive due to fines and insurance costs. It’s better to take time to refresh knowledge and skills now rather than pay for injuries and damage later.

“THE OPERATORS DON’T WANT IT”

Talk to your operators about the benefits of training. Training and increased knowledge creates a culture of safety that will help forklift operators feel more satisfied and empowered at work.

“WE ALREADY KNOW HOW TO USE OUR TRUCKS”

This one is certainly true, but it doesn’t mean that training can’t help boost your bottom line. Each forklift is different, and specialized knowledge in specific machinery and tasks can pay dividends. For example, a training course focused on order picking and picking trucks can help boost productivity and save money.

WHY TRAIN?

Prevention is a major reason for forklift operator training and retraining. Thoroughly trained operators are more likely to be accident-free. That means improved safety, better morale, less damage, and best of all, fewer injuries.

Also, training shows employees their organization cares about them and their safety. An investment in training can pay off in operator competence, confidence and commitment to the organization. Not only does training improve productivity by reducing accidents, it can also speed up operations by improving skills and knowledge of specialized equipment. WMHS

Russell Niedzwiecki is Corporate Trainer for TrainMOR, a company dedicated to the safety of operators and their co-workers. He has provided powered industrial truck operator, mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) and Train the Trainer courses for more than 10,000 people for more than 800 companies throughout Michigan and Indiana. Visit: https://www.trainmor.com/ Morrison Industrial Equipment offers a mobile industrial tire service. Call 833-633-0256 for a free, no obligation tire survey.

Is Training Worth the Investment?

Companies get a lot of value from effective operator training. Beyond fulfilling OSHA standards, they also benefit from employees who operate forklifts safely and who have a deep understanding of best practices, including:

Increased Safety: It’s fair to say that no company wants a poor safety record. It can be a stain on the company’s reputation. Not to mention that workers compensation claims, lawsuits, and fines can be expensive. Well-trained operators are less likely to have accidents because they know how to operate forklifts properly. That means fewer on-the-job injuries to operators and others.

Less Damage: Poor driving and careless forklift operation can lead to facility and product damage like torn packages, scrapes and gouges. Repairs can be costly and cut into productive time. Trained drivers learn safe driving techniques and operation practices. That means less damage to products, shelving, floors and walls. Repair costs and downtime are kept to a minimum.

Improved Productivity: Whether picking finished goods for shipment or delivering materials to production machinery, forklifts are essential for moving materials and products in a timely manner. Drivers who receive high-quality training can operate trucks more efficiently and skillfully. Companies can get tasks done more quickly, a huge benefit in a busy workplace.

Lower Maintenance Costs: Forklift maintenance is part of forklift ownership. Scheduled, preventive maintenance is cost-efficient. However, when maintenance is unplanned due to an accident, the costs can take a large hit out of a company’s profits. Properly trained drivers mean less time and money wasted on unscheduled repairs.

Reduced Insurance Costs: When an accident occurs that injures an employee, a company’s insurance must cover any necessary medical costs. Documentation of safety training and certification can reduce the costs of the workers’ compensation coverage.

Better Morale: Employees who are competently, professionally trained enjoy the training experience and appreciate their company investing in them. Plus, their increased knowledge gives their self-esteem a boost.

Every business should establish a consistent, high quality operator training schedule and mandate that only certified workers operate forklifts. You’ll increase productivity, reduce damage, lower, or even eliminate injuries, avoid any fatalities, and save your company hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.