We can hardly believe 2012 is coming to a close and that this is our last Update Newsletter of the year! We have a lot to share with you this edition, but first some housekeeping. Please note that our offices will be closed Monday, December 24 through Wednesday, December 26. We will be closing at 12PM PST on Monday, December 31 and will be closed Tuesday, January 1, 2013.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Online Prize Draw Winners
The lucky winners have received their prizes and we have a video to share with you...
Revised Operator Training Materials Coming in 2013
We have recently made some updates and revisions to some of our operator training materials that you should be aware of. The revised counterbalanced forklift materials are scheduled for release in early January and early February for the revised rough terrain forklift materials. The actual release date may vary depending on the depletion of current stock levels. Please note that the following revisions do not make the current versions obsolete. The revisions are as follows:
- Counterbalanced Forklift Operator Reference Manual
a. Page #21 - The damage specifications in regard to the overhead guard impact test for sit-down and stand-up models has been updated to reflect the specifications in the most recent ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks. Most notably, the specification of 10 inches (25.4 cm) minimum clearance between the top of the steering wheel to the bottom of the overhead guard was revised to the current specification of 30 inches (765 mm) from the bottom of the guard to the Seat Index Point (SIP), which is basically where the operator’s rear end is while operating a sit-down type unit.
b. Page #29 - The heading “Calculating Alternate Load Capacities” has been changed to read “Calculating Alternative Load Capacities.”
c. Page #29 - All references to the 100 lbs/inch (45 kg/2.5 cm) formula for calculating load capacity deductions (in relation to increases in load center distance) have been removed in favor of a more accurate formula.
- Counterbalanced Forklift Operator Final Written Theory Test (T-100)
a. The test has been completely revised to a 20 question format involving multiple choice questions and one question that requires trainees to label a drawing of the stability pyramid. Trainees are no longer required to write out a description of the stability pyramid but rather answer questions about it.
- Counterbalanced Forklift Trainer’s Manual Insert (SUP-021)
a. Pages #2-10 through #2-13 - Revised to include answers to the newly revised operator written theory test. These pages will be made available for download on the Member Dashboard so that you can update your Trainer’s Manual.
- Counterbalanced Forklift Operator Digital Training Aid
a. Frame #5 - The word “Fork” has been added.
b. Frame #6 - The “Tip” has been labeled along with the “Shank/Load-face” label that was already there.
c. Frame #7 - The “Blade” has been labeled along with the “Heel” label that was already there.
d. Frame #8 – The “Lock Pin” has been labeled along with the “Upper/Lower Mounting Brackets” label that was already there.
e. Frame #8 - “Hangers” has been added behind the “Upper/Lower Mounting Brackets” label – it’s a more common term for the part.
f. Frame #9 - A magnified view of the load ratings on the fork shank has been added for clarity.
g. Frame #10 - The word “Spacing” has been added between the two forks to add clarity to what the frame is supposed to be addressing.
h. Frame #35 - The 10in spec from the top of the steering wheel to the bottom of the guard has been replaced with the new ANSI spec of 30in from the bottom of the guard to the seat or “Seat Index Point” (SIP) as ANSI calls it.
i. Frame #35 - The metric equivalent values for both machines has been changed from centimeters to millimeters.
j. Frames #90-92 - The capacity drops by 200 lbs/in as the load CG moves away from 24in just to get away from our 100lbs/in rule that was not accurate enough.NOTE: All reference to the capacity reduction of 100lbs/in for every inch of f load center movement have been removed from ALL of the forklift books including French and Spanish language versions.
k. Frame #182 - CANADIAN VERSION ONLY – “DOT-Dept. of Transport” has been replaced with “TC Transport Canada”.
- Rough Terrain Forklift Operator Reference Manual
a. Page #46 - The introductory paragraph under “Calculating Load Capacity” has been rewritten and simplified.
b. Page #47 - The sentence “Boom extension is gauged by numbered marks along the inner boom.” has been changed to “Boom extension is gauged by lettered or numbered marks along the inner boom.”
c. Page #47 – An image of a telescopic boom has been added.
d. Page #47 - The wording in the bullets under “Load Capacity Chart” has been revised to increase accuracy.
e. Page #48 - A new “OUTRIGGERS UP” load chart has been added along with three questions under the “Using Load Charts” heading to provide you with exercises that will help you teach your trainees how to calculate load capacity using the load charts.
f. Page #48 - A “NOTE” has been added in the margin advising operators to use the load charts on their actual machine for calculating load capacities while operating it.
g. Page #49 - A new “OUTRIGGERS DOWN” load chart has been added along with three questions under the “Using Load Charts” heading to provide you with exercises that will help you teach your trainees how to calculate load capacity using the load charts.
h. Page #49 - A “NOTE” has been added in the margin advising operators to use the load charts on their actual machine for calculating loaf capacities while operating it.
i. Page #53 - In the last paragraph under “Pre-use Inspections,” the time it takes to do one has been changed from ”3-5 minutes” to “10-15 minutes.”
j. Page #77 - A typo was corrected in question #17 where “24-nch” was corrected to read “24-inch.”
- Rough Terrain Operator Final Written Theory Test
a. The test has been completely revised to a 20 question format involving multiple choice questions and five questions that require trainees to calculate load capacity using the load charts in the operator reference manual.
- Rough Terrain Forklift Trainer’s Manual Equipment Insert
a. Page #2-6 - The answers to the load chart questions on page #48 of the Rough Terrain Operator Reference Manual have been added.
b. Page #2-7 - The answers to the load chart questions on page #49 of the Rough Terrain Operator Reference Manual have been added.
c. Page #2-9 - The answer to question #15 on page 2-7 was changed from “3-5 minutes” to “10-15 minutes.” The revised page #2-7 of the insert is available for you to download from the Member Dashboard page on our website.
d. Pages #2-11 to #2-14 - These pages have been updated to include the answers to the newly revised operator written theory test. These pages will be made available for download on the Member Dashboard so that you can update your Trainer’s Manual.
Incident Report
Delaware State Police are investigating an incident that left two workers injured when a boomlift toppled backwards. The two men were performing maintenance and attempting to reach the conveyor belt on the top of the grain silo. Indications are that one of the workers attempted to re-position the boomlift by putting it in reverse. One of the boomlift’s wheels traveled down a small embankment, causing the boomlift to lose its center of gravity, and topple backwards. The workers and the boomlift fell to the ground with the boomlift falling across the railroad tracks. The men landed approximately 10 feet from the boom, on a gravel surface. Both workers were wearing safety harnesses, but it is unknown at this time if they were secured to the platform. Both men were flown to hospital by helicopter where they were admitted in critical condition.
Source: WGMD.com
What’s Wrong With This?
See if you can spot what’s wrong in the photo below. Look for the answer in the January 2013 Update.
Answer To Last Month’s WWWT
In November we shared a photo of a construction site with some serious safety issues. In that photo you will see there is hosing slung haphazardly from the building, across the yard and onto the corner of the scissor lift. Further to that, there are people working directly underneath whatever it is that is precariously hung from the scissor lift. Remember, if you see something at your workplace that is unsafe you should immediately report it to your supervisor.
Ask Bob
Can you tell me if there is a separate certification required for training people on aerial boomlifts above 100 feet?
There is not specifically a separate “certification” for working on aerial equipment above 100ft, however, the ANSI/SIA A92 standard for aerial boomlifts tell us to deliver further training if the operational characteristics are different from one machine to another. For example, if changing from a 40ft boomlift to a 100ft boomlift you will likely find differences that need to be addressed such as control functions, extendable axles, envelope management, etc. Additional training will be needed to cover those differences with the operator, per the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the training is complete, you should then evaluate the operator on the new equipment model to make sure they are competent to operate that specific machine.
New Excavator Digital Training Aid
Our newest product is a Digital Training Aid for light to medium-duty excavators, designed specifically to complement our Excavator Operator Reference Manuals. This graphic training aid is a stunning collection of accurate and colorful imagery, designed by IVES. We’re sure this product will add an unparalleled vibrant dimension to your operator training programs. This new item will be available for you to order and download starting January 2, 2013!
Trainer’s Corner
There are times when it is OK to give a written test verbally. For example, if you have noticed trainees having trouble reading, writing or speaking English, it is completely acceptable to read the test questions to them and write down their answers. Another instance when verbally covering questions is acceptable is if you are having trouble reading and/or understanding something the trainee has written on the test. Rather than guessing at what it is they are trying to say or just marking it wrong because you don’t understand it, just leave it blank until you have an opportunity to talk about it privately with the trainee. Hopefully, after some brief discussion with the trainee, you can clarify any misunderstanding, then ask a few questions that the trainee can answer verbally to your satisfaction. Of course, you need to document all of this correctly by doing the following:
- Record all the questions you ask and the answers they give, so that it forms part of the record.
- Make a note within the documentation indicating the question(s) was/were covered verbally and understood – you can do that by writing “covered verbally and understood” next to the information you have recorded.
- Make sure that you and your trainee initial the notation above.
NOTE: if you are using an IVES Operator Theory Test, you will find included an acknowledgement that any incorrect answers have been discussed with and understood by the trainee, as well as a place for both the trainer and trainee to initial.
Updated Workbook Covers
We’ve updated our workbook covers with a few small changes to make them easier to differentiate.
We’ve increased the size of the title bar and font. Also, we’ve added an equipment silhouette to the bottom right corner, depicting which type of equipment is addressed.
We hope you like the changes!
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