In the Winter 2003 IVES Update Newsletter we’ll talk about training our 10,000th instructor, a question on order pickers, the evaluation process and more!
Ives Certifies 10,000th Instructor!
On October 24, 2003 at Safety Center Incorporated (SCI) located in Sacramento CA., Jeff Melampy of the Blommer Chocolate Company became the 10,000th instructor trained and certified by the Ives Training Group.
“This is a really special moment for us,” said Ives’ Managing Director, Rob Vetter. “It took us over 22 years to get here, and we could not have done it without the hard work of partners like SCI, and all of the state safety councils that share in the success of this milestone. It is also a testament to the integrity of progressive, responsible employers like those at the Blommer Chocolate Company, who seek to be the best at what they do.”
Liz McClatchey, President and CEO of SCI who attended the presentation of Mr. Melampy’s instructor plaque at Blommer’s Union City, CA location said, “We strive to consistently deliver the best training possible to our clients, and when it comes to forklifts and mobile equipment, Ives is it.” Also in attendance for the presentation, from the Blommer Chocolate Company staff were Tori Blommer-O’Malley, Vice President of Operations; Larry Coleman, Safety Manager; Linda Melampy, Controller (and Jeff’s proud wife), and of course the man of the hour, Jeff Melampy, Safety Technician and Ives’ 10,000th instructor (see photo on front).
Ives would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the more than 10,000 Ives Certified Instructors and their employers across North America. Together with our safety council partners like Safety Center Incorporated, we have trained over 430,000 operators of forklifts, aerial lifts, loaders and cranes — and that is something that nobody else can say.
So, from all of us at Ives, THANK YOU for making us all that we are!
Ask Bob
Hi Bob,
I know that when operating an order picker there is a requirement that the person being elevated has to be wearing a safety lanyard and a harness.
My question is, does the harness have to be a full body harness or can it be a safety belt attached to a lanyard? I believe that a full body harness is much safer. Any help you could provide would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bill
Dear Bill,
A body belt is required when the situation calls for a fall restraint device. This is a device that will prevent a person from getting close enough to the edge of an elevated area to fall off. It usually consists of a waist belt and a lanyard tied off to an anchor point.
If it is possible for the person to fall off the edge, then a fall arrest device must be worn. This is a full 5-point body harness that will stop the fall in a specified distance, usually 4 to 6 feet.
It is worth noting here that the construction industry has pretty much banned the use of body belts altogether in most cases. Better check with the general contractor when you’re working at a construction site.
Hope I have helped.
Bob
Seasons Greetings from Your Friends at Ives
It seems only a short time ago that we at Ives were planning for the first quarter of the year, and now we are nearing the end of the fourth quarter. Our plans for the coming year are exciting: new product development, safety and health conference participation, additional training sites, and the list goes on. What will not change at Ives is our strong commitment to providing top-quality training programs and training materials to our valued customers to help them maintain a safe working environment. Our warmest wishes to all of you for a Happy Holiday Season and a Safe, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!
What’s Your Instructor IQ?
What do you think happened?
Possible answer: Operator did not check trailer deck/flooring.
Answers To "What's Your Instructor IQ" From Fall 2003 Update
What could have been done to prevent these situations from happening?
We need to be aware of surface conditions within our working environment. Remember that we are required to inspect trailer flooring before entering with a piece of mobile equipment and that we are required to conduct a site inspection before operating any aerial equipment.
New Training Facility
We are happy to announce that as of January 2004 we will be delivering our Standard Forklift Instructor Certification Program at our new location in Tukwila, WA just outside of Seattle.
We are delighted to be back in the Tukwila area, where we have previously spent many years successfully delivering our open enrollment training program, before our move into Seattle’s downtown core a few years ago. One of the main factors that initiated the move back was that our clients found it very difficult commuting in and out of Seattle, mostly because of the heavy traffic conditions regularly found there. Tukwila is very accessible and is an excellent location for conveniently servicing the greater Seattle area.
We are glad to be back and looking forward to delivering instructor programs and recertifications there for years to come.
The Evaluation Process Continued: Grading the Form
In the last issue, we discussed the concept of an evaluation and some dos and don’ts relating to the process. In this installment, we will discuss the next step in the process: grading the form.
Since most of you have been trained to train forklift operators, we will walk through the grading procedure using the Lift Truck Operator Practical Evaluation Form (the yellow form). Those of you who were trained to train operators on other types of equipment should also read along, because the same procedure applies even though you may be using a different form.
Now that you have done all the work to get your operators through the classroom and practical evaluation, be sure to take the necessary time to dot all the “i”s and cross all the “t”s. Of all the items that you write on the form, the score is the most important.
As you may recall, a passing grade on the operator evaluation is 80%. But 80% of what, you may ask. Well, 80% of the total number of line items on the form, which on the lift truck form happens to be 32. This means that if an operator receives 23 out of 32, they would not pass, indicating that additional training is needed.
When you have finished putting all of your checks and “X”s in the appropriate places, count up the number of “X”s there are and subtract that number from 32. For instance, if there were 4 “X”s, you would subtract 4 from 32, giving you a score of 28/32. To convert this figure into a percentage (%), just divide 28 by 32, which gives you 0.875, and then multiply this number by 100 to get a percentage of 87.5%. Since we don’t want any fractions, let’s round it off to the nearest half percent and call it 88%.
This procedure assumes three things: (1) that you did not add anything to the form in the “Other” section; (2) that you did not subtract anything by designating it as “N/A” (not applicable); and (3) that you did not record an “X” in the “Basic Operating Procedures” section. If you did any or all of these things, then we need to discuss how it will affect the score.
First of all, if you added or subtracted an item, it will change the total on the form. For example, if you added one item to the form, then the operator must achieve a score of 80% of 33 rather than 32. Likewise, if you designated an item as N/A, you must deduct one from the total, which means the operator must now achieve a passing grade of 80% based on a form with only 31 items. It is not uncommon for instructors to add and subtract several items to and from the form, so it is crucial that the total be adjusted accordingly or the wrong score will be recorded, which could be a disaster in certain circumstances.
Next, if you recorded an “X” in the “Basic Operating Procedures” section, then it does not matter what the score is, the driver will not pass and must receive additional training. In fact, if an “X” is recorded in that section, the score becomes irrelevant and N/A is recorded at the bottom in the score box, and the “Fail” box to the left of it is also checked.
Remember, the final score must be 80% of what- ever the end total is, considering additions and subtractions, AND there must be no “X”s recorded in “Basic Operating Procedures.” In the next edition, we’ll review filling out all of the certification documentation and what to do with it when you’re done.
— Rob Vetter, Managing Director
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