This Winter 2004 IVES Update Newsletter edition covers an article on training operators, a question on front-end loaders with forks, pedestrian training, accident reports and much more.
If it Were Easy…
Allow me to assume that if you are reading this article, you have some equipment operator training under your belt. Allow me to also assume that it probably didn’t come off exactly the way you planned and that you had to deal with one or several unplanned occurrences. If this is true and you are pouring over the details of what happened and how you can prevent it from happening again well, that’s great, and good for you, but don’t beat yourself up too much. The best way to ensure that unforeseen incidents do not foul up your training is to prepare yourself to accept and deal with them.
We all know that numerous challenges ranging from the weather to learning disabilities can, and will, rear their ugly heads from time to time during training. However, something you may not be aware of is that they have one common element amongst them… they’re normal.
Being an instructor is not just about possessing the knowledge and skill to deliver training and conduct evaluations. It’s also about having and developing the personality traits that will allow you to be facilitator, mentor, decision-maker, problem solver and occasional referee when you need to be. Sometimes you will have to be all of these things, and more, in the space of a single training session. What you must accept, and even embrace, is that being all of these things is as much a part of being an instructor as having equipment knowledge and developing a lesson plan.
If you allow the occasional knuckle-ball to rattle you, you may find your frustration affecting your words and actions. This is not an acceptable option for a trained and competent instructor… ever!
Of course, some obstacles can stop you in your tracks, like equipment that is not safe to use or an emergency of some kind. However, most things, like less-than-perfect facilities, malfunctioning audio-visual equipment, or even the occasional disruptive trainee, can be turned into entirely workable situations.
When you feel things starting to get to you and frustration starts setting in… stop. Give the trainees a break and take a private moment to calmly assess the situation and consider your options. You may have to change your plan or adjust your timing in order to get the job done. You will definitely have to deal with any disruptive situations or trainees and straighten things out before continuing.
Most of all, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Trainers everywhere deal with the same kinds of challenges that you do. So if you feel like pulling your hair out or throwing in the towel from time to time, don’t worry, we all do. After all, if it were easy… anybody could do it.
Rob Vetter, Managing Partner
Ives Training Group
Ask Bob
Hi Bob,
A front-end loader (earth moving machinery) that has been modified to be used as a forklift falls under what OSHA requirements for certification and training, since it does not fall under powered industrial trucks?
Thanks,
Brenda
Dear Brenda,
OSHA really has no specific regulations in regard to training operators on front-end loaders.
Section 5(a) of the OSH Act, commonly referred to as the “General Duty” clause, requires employers to protect workers from recognized hazards. Since untrained loader operators would constitute a recognized hazard, training is required.
The question is, what content should be covered and how much is enough? Well, our operator training materials together with the manufacturer’s recommendations should do nicely. As far as how much training…enough to enable the trainee to demonstrate the knowledge and skill needed for the task(s) at hand.
I hope that helps,
Bob
Bob,
I have a driver that is 6’8″ tall. In the old forklift we had in the plant, he had to bend his head to drive. When I saw this, I took him off the lift. We have newer forklifts in the plant now. He has more head clearance, but I need to know how much is needed to have him drive this lift safely.
Thank you,
Don
Don,
There are no regulations or standards that define what amount of headroom is necessary. ANSI/ASME B56.1, 2000 says that there must be a minimum of 35 inches of clearance between the operator’s seat and the underside of the overhead guard, but that’s as close as it gets to mentioning anything about clearances relative to the overhead guard.
I would say that if your operator can use the newer forklift comfortably, there is no issue.
I hope that helps,
Bob.
Seasons Greetings
It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and 2005 is just around the corner! We have lots of exciting changes lined up for the New Year, most notably the upgrading of our training materials and some new and innovative programs. What never changes with Ives though is our absolute commitment in providing first-class training programs and training materials to our customers to help them maintain a safe workplace.
Our warmest wishes to all of you and your families for a Happy Holiday Season and a Safe, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
What’s Your Instructor IQ?
Test your knowledge by answering the following:
- Does a powered industrial truck operator have to be retrained every three years or re-evaluated every three years?
- Does the operator of a boom lift have the responsibility of ensuring that all personnel on the platform are wearing fall arrest devices?
Check out the next edition of the Ives Update for the answers. Good luck!
Answers to “What’s Your Instructor IQ” (Fall Edition 2004)
- If a front-end loader is fitted with forks, is it then considered a forklift?
The answer is no. A front-end loader fitted with forks is considered just that.
- Where is it written that a workplace inspection must be carried out before operating an aerial lift?
ANSI/SIA A92.6–1999 Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms 7.8 Workplace Inspections and ANSI/SIA A92.5–1992 Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms 7.8 Workplace Inspections.
What About Pedestrian Training?
Over the past several years, we, as an industry, have been concentrating on training mobile equipment operators to utilize the equipment safely and to recognize hazards within their operating environments. However, there is another generally overlooked group who require formal training: pedestrians. It is important that they also be knowledgeable, particularly with regard to who has the right of way, use of pedestrian walkways and restricted areas, etc.
The fact is, a large portion of recorded accidents involving a piece of mobile equipment and a pedestrian result in a fatality. Whenever a fatality results from a pedestrian being accidentally struck or run over by a piece of mobile equipment, accountability and liability become key issues. Who is responsible and identifying the root cause of the accident are issues that will be addressed by the formal investigation that is sure to follow.
It is important to mention that not all accidents are the result of the actions of an operator. For various reasons, pedestrians also contribute to the occurrence of some accidents. Nonetheless, investigating authorities will usually take a “life over machinery” view.
What should the pedestrian training consist of?
Site- and equipment-specific issues should be at the core of pedestrian training. Pedestrian training programs should focus on anything that could be considered a hazard to a worker on the work site. Pedestrian training should include, but not be limited to, the following items:
- Warning lights and alarms throughout the site, what they mean and what the response to them should be
- Adequate lighting
- Communication between operators and pedestrians by making eye contact with each other on the site and acknowledging each others presence
- The types of equipment operating at that location and any restricted areas
- Company policies (designated walkways, proper protective equipment, etc.)
Remember, it is a requirement that workers be made aware of all known or reasonably foreseeable health or safety hazards to which they are likely to be exposed to. The bottom line is: knowledge through properly delivered and maintained training can and will save lives.
Kent O’Sullivan
Research & Development
Certified Master Instructor
Brain Teasers
- A farmer had nine sheep, and all but seven died. How many did he have left?
- If eggs can be laid at a rate of eight every seven days, how many can a rooster lay in sixteen days?
- If you had one match and entered a room in which there were a kerosene lamp, an oil burner, and a wood burning stove, which would you light first?
Re-certification Notice
If you are in the Pacific Northwest and received Ives instructor certification training in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Alaska, you are requested to contact Ives at 1-800-643-1144 when your certification expires, or whenever you have questions regarding credentials or equipment. It is important to remember that no safety council or institution, other than Ives, can re-certify you as an Ives equipment instructor. Do not be fooled by imitations or “bridge” offerings. Stick with the best … IVES!
More Spanish!
We’re adding more Spanish-language material to our product line all the time! Our popular Re-certification Study Guides and Re-certification Notepads are now available in Spanish—choose from the Counterbalanced, Narrow Aisle or Rough Terrain Forklift Study Guides or the Powered Pallet Truck Study Guide.
We’re also having our complete selection of overhead transparencies translated—counterbalanced, narrow aisle, rough terrain forklifts and powered pallet truck—look for them in early January 2005 (available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, as well). Also coming early in the New Year is a Spanish-language version of our Point of View (POV) video. Watch for the launch dates of these new products on our home page at www.ivestraining.com and in future editions of the Ives Update.
What other Spanish products would help you in the training room? Let us know your thoughts on this or on anything else we can do to help you at ideas@ivestraining.com.
Aerial Workbook Upgrade
Changes are afoot with our aerial equipment compliance packages. We’ve started the process of upgrading all the aerial workbooks (boomlift, scissor lift, and combined) and related training materials. As part of the upgrade, we will be developing visual training aids specific to the aerial equipment, as well as operator re-certification material. What else would you like to see us develop as part of this project? Send us your ideas by fax—(360) 945-2021.
Quick Tip
Have you ever been conducting a practical evaluation and found yourself with a few comments to write down but no time to do it?
If so, try giving the operator a task that includes a long distance run: one that will allow you to keep him or her in view while also giving you the opportunity to look down and attend to your evaluation form, as well. It has worked well for me; maybe it will work for you, too.
Accident Report
CRANE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH AIRCRAFT CARRIER
A 210-foot crane toppled onto an aircraft carrier, injuring four sailors and trapping its driver—the crane was lifting a “cherry picker” vehicle off the aircraft carrier when it fell onto the warship. A full investigation has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive, and the possibility that the crane was carrying too heavy a weight was being investigated.
WORKER LOSES LEGS
A construction worker lost his legs when a 300-ton crane tipped over at a job site—the crane fell on its side. Witnesses said the worker’s legs were severed when the machine’s heavy metal cables hit him.
ANSWERS TO BRAIN TEASERS
- Seven.
- None. A rooster can’t lay eggs; it’s male.
- Light the match first.
’Tis the Season
Is having water on your floor an OSHA violation when it’s caused by melting snow falling from forklifts and trucks entering your building? The answer is “yes.” Wet floors due to water conditions or the entry of vehicles containing melting snow would be subject to 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2), which states, “The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition.” Depending on the circumstances, this could require more than regularly scheduled housekeeping.
The regulation goes on to address requirements where wet processes are used. A wet floor due to weather conditions would not constitute a wet process. A wet process involves a location where liquid is used to water, wash, soften, cook, or cool a product, and part or all of the liquid residue runs into drains or onto the walking and working surfaces.
Source: www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9714
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