In this Fall 2008 IVES Update Newsletter edition we will cover an article about quality training providers, an Ask Bob question on aerial lifts, details on the federal crane operator certification, the Washington Governor’s Conference to Showcase Forklift Safety, Accident Reports and much more.
You’re in Good Hands… As Always
It is time to put some myths to rest with respect to claims made by some providers within the mobile equipment operator training business. We at IVES are proud to say that when it comes to mobile equipment training programs and materials, there are not many organizations out there that do exactly what we do, and none that do it at our level. We can say this with a certain degree of conviction because we regularly hear from people who have been through our competitors’ programs before experiencing ours; the consensus among this group is quite consistent in that their feedback clearly indicates that IVES is in a class by itself. However, on occasion we still hear from IVES Certified Trainers like you expressing doubt and/or confusion over the philosophy and methods prescribed within the IVES Training System™. This confusion is usually brought about by so-called IVES competitors who, to put it mildly, do not do things the way we do and as such recommend that you shouldn’t either. We would like to address some of the more common issues here as follows and hopefully provide a little more balanced perspective.
Myth #1: Brand X is approved by OSHA
This is a common claim and it is completely false. OSHA, or any other regulatory agency does not and in fact cannot officially approve, recognize, endorse, promote, recommend or even be perceived as favoring any training provider(s). Notice how I said “officially.” There have been regulatory safety officers that have come through IVES programs and may reference our name if someone they encounter in the field asks them for the name of a reputable training provider, but that is not an official endorsement of any kind. We go to industry trade shows and safety conventions all over North America and meet regulatory representatives from every geographic region who tell us that they know of us and our fine reputation, but it does not mean that we (IVES) could take that acknowledgement as an official endorsement, even though other providers might if they were fortunate enough to even receive such an acknowledgement in the first place. I have even seen some providers claim to be “approved” simply because their training merely meets the required minimum regulations/standards! So, if a training provider tells you that their training or training materials are OSHA “compliant,” they just might be. But if they say they are OSHA “approved,” they most assuredly are not.
Myth #2: Brand X says I don’t need to be certified as a trainer
This is true; there is no regulatory wording that mandates any certification requirements for trainers of mobile equipment operators. However, regulations in every jurisdiction that I know of do state, in one way or another, that such training must be performed by “qualified” personnel which OSHA (29 CFR 1926.32(l)) defines as: “… one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.” In addition, OSHA 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) states that in relation to powered industrial truck (forklift) operator training,
“All operator training and evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.” With this in mind, it is unlikely that anyone without some sort of formal training would be considered qualified for the job of training operators, considering the technical complexities involved with the machinery and the specialized skill set needed to be an effective trainer. In short, although the qualifications of a trainer are largely undefined, holding a formal “certification” sure helps if and when the questions start flying.
Myth #3: Brand X says their method is better
Of course they do; what would you expect them to say? They are competing in an open market and have to net business to survive. Many of them will say or do whatever they need to say to get the business. Trouble is, the definition of the term “better” does not always mean the same thing to the parties involved, which can lead to real trouble later. Whenever you hear this line from a potential provider, ask them to explain exactly what they mean by “better” (better than what?) and be very critical of the answer; are their reasons substantial and supported by tried and true real-world experiential data or are they just spouting some rhetorical gibberish designed to tell you what they think you want to hear? Take names and call references. A company that calls themselves great is a cliché; a company whose customers call them great is a find.
Myth #4: Brand X is cheaper and faster
There are scads of words of wisdom connected with the perpetual battle between price, time and quality. I’m sure that you could probably come up with several like “you get what you pay for” or “any job worth doing is worth doing right.” And my personal favorite, “price, time or quality…choose any two because you can’t have all three.” A training supplier that claims it can deliver a superior product in record time at bargain basement prices is either fooling themselves or fooling you, which brings another old saying to mind: “you gotta’ give a little to get a little.” If you want more of one, you have to take less of the other.
Myth #5: Brand X is “non-profit,” therefore more trustworthy
Be careful here. There is a perception that because an organization is designated as non-profit, they are not interested in your money and, as such, they are more trustworthy than a profit-oriented provider. It is important to keep in mind that any organization, regardless of their corporate designation, not only wants your money, they need it. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, UNICEF, United Way—all non-profit organizations with the most philanthropic and altruistic goals and yes, even they need your money, and as much of it as they can possibly get. Why? Because all organizations have overhead costs associated with everything from administration to insurance, and on and on it goes. When it comes to non-profit training providers, there aren’t many but the few of them out there have administrative boards staffed by officers who manage the concerns of the organization and they rarely work for free. In fact, often they draw handsome salaries that rival and occasionally exceed many executives working for profit-oriented organizations.
Make no mistake, if a company or organization is charging fees, collecting donations or otherwise gathering money from public or private resources in exchange for a product and/or service, the corporation itself may not show a profit at the end of the day (or fiscal year), but the people working within it certainly will…and rightfully so.
To summarize, be wary of the claims made by anyone that takes money for products and/or services. To coin yet another ancient proverb, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” At IVES we are proud of our reputation as an excellent training provider and we are equally proud of our reputation as a company that is honest and regards integrity as its greatest asset. We sincerely hope that you are proud as well.
All of you trainers out there who fly the IVES colors and get the job done right should be proud, not because it meets regulations or saves money etc., but because when you take the time to do things correctly, lives are saved. Although your hard work may rarely be openly acknowledged, it is something you can be darn proud of.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
BC Aerial Lift Programs Gain Altitude
For many, the IVES name is and will forever be inseparably tied to forklifts. In recent years however, we are extremely proud to say that our capabilities and reputation with respect to aerial lift equipment has grown to rival out expertise with forklifts.
the growth in the use of aerial lifts is reflected in the popularity of our open enrollment aerial lift trainer certification programs as confirmed by Wendy Wiseman, IVES open Enrollment Training Manager. “Over the past two years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of inquiries we get for aerial lift training and in the program registrations we take. There is no question that aerial lift programs are now as much a mainstay for us as the forklift programs are,” Wendy stated.
“You just can’t go on a construction site these days without seeing some type of aerial device like a boom or a scissor lift…” added Simon Larkin, IVES Assistant Director of Training “… and since they are used to lift people rather than products, regulatory authorities like WorkSafeBC are hyper-sensitive to operator training on this equipment because usually, even a small mistake leads to very serious injury or death,” he concluded.
Larkin went on to say that he is very concerned over the lack of knowledge of typical end users, particularly with respect to operator training requirements and the mandated inspection criteria relative to aerial lifts. Rob Vetter, IVES Director of Training will be at the SAF-T (Safe Access, Fall Protection & Training) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland October 7, 2008 where he will deliver a seminar on the topic to industry experts.
Boom Truck Pilot Project Update
In the last issue we reported that IVES would be working with the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) to deliver programs that would yield the first officially certified boom truck operators in BC. While we are happy to say that we did exactly that, we would be remiss to say that the project was a success.
“The parameters of the written and practical evaluations were quite different than what we expected based on discussions we had with the players involved prior to the delivery of the programs.” Rob Vetter, IVES Director of Training, who went on to say, “The whole thing seemed to have the feel of a lab experiment to me and there were definitely miscommunications between the left and right hand when it came to what the trainees would be tested on and how the tests would be administered. The good news is that people in charge of the assessments feel that they now have the information they need to re-adjust things and hopefully make it right. We’re looking forward to seeing what they come back with in October.”
At press time, IVES had received no updates or news of any developments relative to mobile crane/boom truck operator assessment criteria; however, we do expect something definitive soon. In the meantime, make sure you and/or your crane operators are registered for assessment with BCACS and keep an eye on the IVES Update for further developments.
Answers to “What’s Your Trainer IQ”
1. It is best to evaluate operators:
a) Individually in order to avoid nervous tension and/or possible hazards caused by the presence of others.
b) In small groups so that they may each learn from one another.
c) Immediately following the classroom theory test.
d) On the job.
2. If an industry standard and/or policy conflict with mandated regulation(s):
a) Site policy must be followed.
b) A regulatory variance must be applied for.
c) Referenced industry standards apply.
d) Mandated regulation(s) shall prevail.
Federal Crane Operator Certification Standard Hits Snag
It appears that certain stakeholders within the US construction industry are not happy with and may attempt to block federal OSHA’s proposed crane operator certification standard. The standard calls for operator certification from an “accredited certifying entity” of which there is currently only one; the National Coalition for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), commonly referred as the CCO.
There are some that feel that this requirement is too restrictive in that a single certifying entity is simply not capable of processing the potential thousands upon thousands of operators which could cause unacceptable delays within an industry that is notoriously time sensitive. Look for further developments on this in future editions of the IVES Update.
What’s Your Trainer IQ?
In this edition of the IVES Update, we are breaking with the usual Q&A format of past issues and going with something we hope is a little more fun. Test your trainer IQ by completing this mobile equipment themed crossword. Good luck! Answers at bottom of page.
Accident Reports
Telehandler Power Strike Kills Teen Operator
An 18-year-old telehandler operator was killed when the boom struck a power line. According to police, bystanders heard the machine hit the power lines and ran over to see what happened. They saw the operator lying on the ground. “One of the bystanders took a tow strap and pulled the victim away from the vehicle,” police said. When firefighters arrived, they said they found the telehandler’s tires on fire. Firefighters started CPR on the operator, and once the power was shut off, the fire was put out. The operator was pronounced dead in the hospital emergency room.
In most regions, 10-ft (3m) is the minimum approach distance (MAD) to an energized power line but depending on voltage it could be more – look up and live! –Ed.
Skid Steer Loader Operator Ejected and Crushed
A skid steer loader operator was ejected from the loader’s seat and crushed under its bucket. The 20-year-old victim had been working for a residential construction contractor as a laborer and skid steer loader operator for two weeks. The victim was working at a new housing development site operating the skid steer loader to move dirt and level a small area in preparation for landscaping the yard. He was observed operating the loader at a rapid speed with the bucket raised and full of dirt. A short while later a worker found the victim unresponsive under the bucket of the loader. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared deceased.
An investigation determined that the victim, who was not wearing the provided seatbelt, had been ejected from the seat of the skid steer loader and was crushed under the loader’s bucket. The victim had not been trained in how use to a skid steer load.
Although there is no substantial regulatory wording detailing loader operator training, in a case like this, does it really matter? –Ed.
Washington Governor’s Conference to Showcase Forklift Safety
The 57th Annual Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference being held September 24-25, 2008 in Spokane at the Spokane Convention Center promises to be a ground breaking event in that forklift safety is front and center on the event agenda. In addition to the State Final Forklift Rodeo, a regular event at the conference for the past 12 years, bringing safe forklift operation to the forefront of this year’s event will be bolstered by educational seminars, product demonstrations and an all around higher degree of visibility, interaction and access to forklift equipment and training supplies.
IVES would like to take this opportunity to salute the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Advisory Board’s recognition of the need for a higher level of forklift safety awareness and are very proud to be associated with the event as seminar hosts and rodeo judges. If just one person gets the message and goes home from work safely, it will have all been worth it.
The 57th Annual Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference being held September 24-25, 2008 in Spokane at the Spokane Convention Center promises to be a ground breaking event in that forklift safety is front and center on the event agenda. In addition to the State Final Forklift Rodeo, a regular event at the conference for the past 12 years, bringing safe forklift operation to the forefront of this year’s event will be bolstered by educational seminars, product demonstrations and an all around higher degree of visibility, interaction and access to forklift equipment and training supplies.
IVES would like to take this opportunity to salute the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Advisory Board’s recognition of the need for a higher level of forklift safety awareness and are very proud to be associated with the event as seminar hosts and rodeo judges. If just one person gets the message and goes home from work safely, it will have all been worth it.
AMEX Now Accepted on Web Order System
Our new Web Order System has been a huge success. Within the first few months already one-third of our orders are now placed online. You, our valued customers are obviously responding to the convenience of placing an order at any time of the day or night, seven days a week. Also, once a log-in has been established, the shipping and billing addresses are auto-entered*, making it extremely quick and easy to place an order.
Along with the growing popularity of this new system, we’ve also received requests from our customers to accept not only Visa and MasterCard as payment options but also American Express. If you don’t wish to be invoiced and prefer to use a credit card, then effective immediately, IVES will now accept your American Express card.
* Of course, users can always edit an address (for instance, if they need an order shipped to a different training site).
Log On for Discounts
Always remember to log on when you order to take advantage of our Certified Trainer discounts. If you don’t have a password yet, just go to www.ivestraining.com. Click the SUBMIT button and you’ll get a screen where you can click and get started. Have your IVES Certified Trainer number handy so you can enter it when asked. If you run into any difficulties, call 1-800-643-1144 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Digital Training Aids Now Vista Compatible
We are very happy to announce that our very popular Digital Training Aids (DTAs) for counterbalanced forklifts, aerial boomlifts and scissor lifts are now available in a format compatible with the Microsoft Vista operating system.
For those of you Vista users that have been patiently biding your time, your wait is over. Thank you for your patience.
Crossword Answers
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