This Spring 2007 IVES Update Newsletter edition features “Seek First to Understand”, a question on pre-use inspections, aerial lift welding cables, crane certification, aerial lift standard clarification and more.
Seek First to Understand…
As trainers in the 21st century, we are constantly aware of and reminded about the need to be politically correct, or “PC” as the more hip among us say, so as not to offend anyone. By and large, the philosophy of being PC is a good one. There is no place for off-color jokes, foul language, or references to politics, religion, race, etc. within the classroom under any circumstances. However, in our zealous pursuit of protecting the rights and feelings of the individual we must take care not to sacrifice the same for the many.
For example, I recently had the displeasure of attending a seminar that, ironically, addressed the topic of treating people with tact and diplomacy. During the seminar, the facilitator was faced with the task of dealing with an attendee who was clearly sent against their will and chose to deal with it by being disagreeable and rude. My hat went off to the session facilitator for handling that person with more than their due respect, but as several of the other more well-behaved attendees I had coffee with at the last break indicated, that rude and disruptive boor was appeased at the expense of the others. We all agreed that we could have got a lot more out of the seminar if the offending party were dealt with more severely or, better yet, simply asked to leave.
This particular scenario is one that I can relate to, because if I had a nickel for every trainee who came to an operator training program against their will, I’d have a personal staff of forklift, loader and crane operators specifically trained to move my nickels around. I’m not saying that the facilitator at the seminar did anything wrong. In fact, given the nature of the event (diplomacy and tact), everything that could be done under the circumstances was done, but in the world of the equipment trainer, there is a line that must be drawn between dealing with a problem trainee and dealing with a horse’s backside.
I think it was Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People who wrote, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood,” an excellent philosophy that to me means, always try to find reasons for errant behavior before judging and/or reacting. I have lived by this philosophy throughout my training career and have to say that it has served me well. I have been both amazed and horrified at the responses I have had from disruptive trainees who I have privately approached in an attempt to address their behavior. I have learned that in most cases undesirable behavior can be driven by intangible human factors ranging from divorce to daycare. This usually clears up a number of issues for me and helps the “problem” trainee by providing them a vent for their feelings, which occasionally is all they are looking for. Of course, it also helps me to understand the situation a little better.
However, on the other side of the coin are the occasional clowns that just like to stir up the pot for no other reason than because they can. Those are the types who need to be separated and given a choice between staying under your terms and leaving under theirs. My operator programs typically run a very full day and I just don’t have time to deal with anyone that doesn’t have a darn good reason for being disruptive. More importantly, I simply will not allow the value of a training program to be degraded for those trainees who are willing to give it an honest go and try to learn something.
So the PC approach is all well and good, but it has to work for everyone. And don’t get me wrong, if and when I identify someone as a yahoo, it doesn’t give me free range to treat the person any less respectfully. It simply means that I can clear them out of the program with a clear conscience.
On the rare occasion that this occurs, the remaining trainees are usually a little uptight and I have found it useful to lighten things up a bit afterward. So a non-denominational minister and a vertically challenged circus performer walk into a bar…
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
Ask Bob
Dear Bob,
Is there a set amount of time a company needs to keep completed pre-shift inspection forms for?
Lyle
Hello Lyle,
You should keep completed pre-shift inspection forms; however, there is no stipulated time mandated by regulation. Many companies keep these for periods of 3 months to 7 years. My opinion is that they should be kept for at least 1 year. I only say this as I was once asked to supply 6 months of them for an accident investigation.
Bob
Dear Bob,
I heard that if you were going to leave a propane-powered forklift for more than an hour, you have to shut off the tank. Is that true?
Ashley
Hello Ashley,
NFPA standards require that the service valves of propane cylinders be shut off if the forklifts are to be parked indoors for a protracted period of time. The trouble is, nobody knows what a protracted period of time is. I think one hour is a good rule of thumb, but there is nothing in writing (that I know of), with the exception of Cal-OSHA’s Article 64, 4409(c) – Mobile Equipment, but it applies to pulp, paper and paperboard mills only.
Team Member Profile: Nick Armer
Jan 2, 2005 marked the rebirth of the true “IVES spirit” with the addition of Nick Armer to the IVES team.
I would consider myself to be the “can-do guy” involving all of our equipment offerings. The dirtier, the uglier, the colder, the better. Being a glutton for punishment, I truly enjoy being sent to the places that nobody has ever heard of or will hear about in their lifetime. I have been sent on numerous “special projects” that entail sub-zero temperatures, multiple travel destinations that require less than 12 hours sleep over 72 hour periods and yet carry the appearance of that “well-rested instructor” without fail. Sleep is always overrated, right?
Love
Ives Training Group offers me the opportunities to see parts of North America that most “Americans” do not have the opportunity to see. How often does your job take you to Prudhoe Bay, AK or Lake Wales, FL? One week can be at a refuse company and the next at a high tech pharmaceutical facility. I believe the most positive aspect of being an instructor at IVES is that each week I get to meet lots of new students and have a good time with the classes. I have had a few jobs over the last 15 years in the equipment industry – at a general rental company, at a CAT forklift dealership, and then to an on-site diesel refueling company – and have enjoyed them all but without any doubt, this is by far the very best and most rewarding.
Fun
I enjoy fly fishing, but do not carry a purist attitude. “do what ya gotta do to catch them fish!” Just remember this when it comes to fly fishing “There are two ways to fly-cast. One is to put the fly in front of the fish; the other is wrong.” I also enjoy bicycling and usually endure the annual Seattle to Portland bicycle ride. It’s only 206 miles in 2 days. Yes, I thought it would be fun to do it in 1 day so I did it in one year. (I don’t think I like that kind of fun.)
I carry to each class the same approach/goal. In my classes, we have to have FUN! If we are having fun, we are learning as we go. I do not take safety lightly, but believe I have found a balance in relaying the importance of safety while enjoying life.
What’s your instructor IQ?
Test your knowledge by answering the following:
- In addition to being trained, evaluated, and found competent, what must an operator receive before using any mobile equipment?
a) A valid driver’s license.
b) A medical fitness test.
c) Authorization from the employer.
d) The manufacturer’s operating manual.
- If an operator does not check the equipment’s service brakes during a practical evaluation, you should:
a) Stop and ask him/her about it at an appropriate time.
b) Mark it down on the evaluation form and continue.
c) Stop the evaluation immediately.
d) Tell him/her to check the brakes.
Check out the next edition of the Ives Update for the answers. Good luck!
Answers to “What’s Your Instructor IQ?” (Winter Edition 2006)
- Why is it important to initial changes you make to a practical evaluation form?
a) To have on record the name of the person who actually made the change.
b) To indicate for the record that the change was actually intentional.
c) To indicate that the change was an official one.
d) So that you can be contacted if there are any questions afterward.
- Which phrase best describes “load center”?
a) The location of the center of gravity of the load.
b) The single point where an object is balanced in all directions.
c) The area in which the combined center of gravity must remain for the equipment to remain stable.
d) The point at which a forklift is rated to lift a maximum load.
Welding Cables Carry a Lot of Weight with Aerial Lift Operators
Aerial lifts such as boom and scissor lifts are often used for maintenance and repair work involving welding. While it’s true that welders undergo years of training and practice to become qualified in the trade, it is just as true that many of them do not receive the proper training to utilize aerial lifts in the performance of their jobs. Because of this, many welders are not aware that as they elevate the platform of an aerial lift with the stinger and ground cables of their electric arc welding equipment in hand, the load placed on the platform steadily increases as the weight of lengths of cable being hoisted into the air increases. In addition, the weight load of the cables is usually not evenly distributed onto the platform since the cables are usually wrapped around one of the guardrails at either end. This uneven load distribution can have a drastic effect on the overall unit stability at higher elevations. Have a look at the chart at right — you may be surprised at how much some welding cable weighs, but not as surprised as some unaware welder may be!
Minnesota and Utah to Require Crane Operator Certification July 1
Minnesota and Utah are to become the most recent states to adopt legislation mandating that operators of cranes rated at 15,000 pounds or more and capable of boom extension of 25 feet or more be certified as of July 1, 2007. IVES Training will continue to deliver mobile crane and boom truck instructor and operator training; however, as of July 1 we will no longer be authorized to issue operator certification to crane operators. Certification may only be issued by an accredited certifying entity as defined by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Be sure to check your state occupational safety and health regulations for any exemptions and/or exceptions.
Confusion Over Washington State Aerial Lift Standard Cleared Up
The Washington state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) recently re-wrote the requirement for scissor lifts in WAC 296-869, Elevating Work Platforms, which became effective January 1, 2007. The wording of the new rule apparently gave some individuals the impression that operators of scissor lifts were required to wear a fall protection harness, which is not the case. Unfortunately, there were some industry “professionals” who misunderstood the new rules and prematurely blew the whistle before qualifying their information. IVES Training was not among those confused by the issue, as our Chief Instructor, Simon Larkin, had asked for and received a letter from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries explaining the new rules, in which it was made clear that operators of scissor lifts were not required to wear harnesses.
Release of Digital Training Aids Delayed
We have encountered some significant challenges in the production of our newly developed digital training aids (DTAs). These challenges relate to the compatibility of the DTA electronic formats (PowerPoint/Adobe Reader) with various computer operating systems (Windows 98, 2000, XP, etc.).
We have managed to overcome a number of issues and are working hard to clear the last hurdle, and we are confident that success is close at hand. We realize that this is not welcome news to many of you and hope you will understand that as your training provider, we refuse to release or distribute any training product that does not meet our high standards.
We sincerely apologize for this delay and ask that you bear with us while we sort this out.
New Stuff
We’ve been busy sourcing and developing lots of new products to help you deliver the best training possible. Following are some new models we carry, but be sure to visit our website at www.ivestraining.com to see everything.
MODELS - Many new models of rough terrain telehandlers, aerial boomlifts and forklifts are now in stock!
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