Thanks for taking the time to read our April 2015 IVES Update Newsletter! In this edition we’ll be covering the following:
- Canadian forklift trainers take note: CSA B335-15 Summary.
- Columbia Forklift Challenge Results.
- New Spanish language training videos!
- An Ask Bob question on fork load ratings.
- Last chance programs.
- What’s Wrong With This? Photo and answer.
- Interesting articles.
- Investigation report: Worker suffered fatal injuries after falling off boomlift.
- Upcoming events schedule.
- Client testimonials.
But first, we are excited to share our brand new homepage design…
CSA B335-15 Summary
Those of you trainers working with forklift operators in Canada will be interested to know that the CSA standard B335-04, formerly B335-94, has been revised once again and is now called CSA B335-15 Safety standard for lift trucks.
The language in this most recent revision of the standard contains many changes in comparison to previous versions but only a few of them would affect what you are or at least should be doing when training operators. Here is a brief list of some of those changes:
1) Clearances – Language was added to section 4 that requires at least 150mm of clearance between the operator, forklift or any part of its load and any parts of a passageway to be maintained at all times except in the following situations:
a) The course of travel of the equipment is controlled by fixed rail guides.
b) Working inside a railcar, truck or trailer.
c) Carrying loads that get closer than 150mm to a wall or other obstacle as long as precautions are taken to prevent contact with such obstacles.
2) Lift truck selection criteria – wording was added that requires users to consider the following items when choosing the type of forklift and attachments needed for a given task and work environment:
a) Fire hazard designation
b) Carrying capacity
c) Reach capabilities where applicable
d) Features of the lift truck
e) Types of loads to be handled
f) Terrain
g) Atmospheric conditions
h) Design of the workplace
i) Presence of explosive concentrations of the following items when using trucks powered by internal combustion engines:
(1) Combustible dusts
(2) Flammable gases/vapors
j) Accumulation of exhaust gases when using engine powered trucks
k) Ergonomic factors
3) Operator compartment guards – Steps must be taken to eliminate the hazard of the horizontal load support beams of warehouse racking entering the operator cab on stand-up units by relocating the beams or by guarding as specified in ANSI/ITSDF B56.1, 7.30.
4) Preoperation inspection – A requirement was added to include consideration of the manufacturer’s specification when conducting pre-use inspections.
5) Leaving the operator’s position – Items were added describing situations where an operator could be required to leave the operating position which include:
a) Adding or removing pieces of the load
b) Stacking or unstacking loads by hand
c) Clearing the roadway of obstacles/debris
6) Lift truck operator medical and physical requirements – This wording has been significantly reduced. All of the references to eyesight, hearing etc. have been removed and only one simple sentence that requires the operator be physically and mentally capable of operating the lift truck safely remains.
7) General – Language advising users that operator training is only part of the overall program and that ongoing supervision to ensure hazards are identified and managed is needed.
8) Capacity plate and location – Another item addressing additional capacity plates listing changes or additions to the equipment (where applicable) was added to the list of things an operator must be made aware of with respect to the data plate.
9) Preoperation inspection – Wording was added advising users to retain inspection forms on file where such a form is used.
10) Retraining – The wording for the mid-term evaluation required by B335-04 has been removed in favor of wording that required retraining in accordance with regional regulatory requirements but no more than 3 years.
11) Operator qualifications – Language saying that if a user chooses to issue operator certificates, the information on the certificate must include:
a) Training provider
b) Trainer
c) Date of training/retraining
d) Equipment class and type
e) Equipment hazard designation (if applicable)
12) Qualifications of the trainer:
a) A note was added advising that local authorities may issue specific training requirement for trainers over and above what is in the standard.
b) A requirement was added for trainers of class 2 operator-up trucks to have successfully completed a fall protection course in accordance with CSA Z259.17
It is important to keep the following in mind:
This document is merely a summary of the changes in the latest revision of the B335 standard over previous versions. To see all of the changes implemented IVES recommends purchasing the standard at http://shop.csa.ca/search?q=b335&categories=shop.
To the best of our knowledge, there are no regulatory jurisdictions within Canada currently mandating compliance with B335-15. However, we strongly recommend consulting the occupational health and safety regulations, codes, guidelines or standards applicable in your area for confirmation of this.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group
Traveling Trainers
Check out all the awesome places where we are delivering training this month…
Oregon GOSH Conference – Columbia Forklift Challenge
The 2015 Columbia Forklift Challenge (CFC) was held on March 11, 2015 during the four-day, biennial Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference at the Oregon Convention Center in beautiful Portland, Oregon. This was the third CFC and the field included 35 competitors representing 15 different companies.
IVES Training Group was a primary sponsor and our Director of Training, Rob Vetter, was the head judge of the event. Click here to view our interview with the Oregonian.
The course consisted of tight maneuvers and narrow aisle navigation with and without loads (stacked pallets), tiering, intersections, and the CFC’s signature bowling ball ramp. Total course time, a 20-question theory test, and course violations factored in the scoring.
Individual Winners ($500): Neil Caylor, Americold (Lynden, WA); 2nd place ($350): Andrew Ibbotson, Americold (Lynden, WA); 3rd place ($200): Randy Langwell, Americold (Lynden, WA).
Team Winners (split $450): Americold (Lynden, WA).
Congratulations to all the winners! We hope to see you all again next year.
Now in Spanish!
Our introductory series is now available in Spanish! Designed to provide operator trainees with basic information on the parts and workings of the equipment they use, each video features an experienced trainer taking the viewer through a detailed inspection of the machine while explaining the main parts, safety features and operational controls.
Available for counterbalanced forklift, narrow aisle reach truck, powered pallet truck, rough terrain telehandler, aerial boomlift, scissor lift and skid steer loader.
Member Price: $89.95 each
Regular Price: $103.95 each
Login to order yours online or call 1-800-643-1144.
Ask Bob
Q: Hi there, just wanted to clear up a discussion I am having with my employer. Our trucks are rated at 3350 lbs at a 24 inch load center, but our forks are only rated for 2750 lbs at a 24 inch load center. Are the forks capacities combined for a total of 5500 lbs lifting capacity?
A: Yes that is correct, the max load that can be lifted by the forks is the sum total of their capacities. Just be sure that the sum total is equal to or greater than the max capacity listed on the unit’s data plate – which in your case it is.
Last Chance Programs!
Lots of programs to choose from, but we have limited seats available. Click for more details:
US Programs
Bismarck, North Dakota
Premium Combo Trainer Apr 20-24
Sacramento, California
Skid Steer Loader Trainer Apr 22-23
Excavator Trainer Upgrade Apr 24
Premium Forklift Trainer Apr 27-30
RT Forklift Trainer Upgrade May 1
Premium Combo Trainer May 18-22
Kapolei, Hawaii
Premium Forklift Trainer Apr 27-30
Rough Terrain Forklift Upgrade May 1
Trainer Recertification May 4
Salt Lake City, Utah
Express Forklift Trainer May 11-12
Aerial Lifts Trainer May 13-15 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Premium Combo Trainer Apr 20-24
Canadian Programs
Prince George, British Columbia
Skid Steer Loader Trainer Apr 27-28
Express Forklift Trainer Apr 29-30
Trainer Recertification May 1
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Loader Group Trainer May 4-8
Excavator Trainer Upgrade May 11
Express Forklift Trainer May 13-14
Trainer Recertification May 15
Premium Combo Trainer May 25-29
Looking for more program dates? View our calendar!
What’s Wrong With This?
To be honest, we aren’t sure if there’s anything really ‘wrong’ in this photo, but it still doesn’t seem quite right. Tell us what you think. Click here to share your comments!
Source: www.vertikal.net
Answers to WWWT
Last month we showed this photo. First of all, kudos to the operator for making the attempt to keep the unit level, but:
- It still appears (to us at least) to be off level.
- Using ramps, blocks etc. to support the unit is in violation of ANSI standards.
- There is nothing to stop the operator from driving down off of the blocks while elevated, which would lead to certain tip over. The drive function should be disabled or the wheels should be blocked against possible movement to minimize this possibility.
- The unit appears to have a pothole protection system that is not activated/engaged even though the platform is raised past the point where it should be engaged.
- Would definitely like to see the area, which appears to be a public parking lot, cordoned off from pedestrian/vehicle traffic because if the wheels of this unit even budge, it’s coming down.
Click here to share your comments!
Interesting Articles
- Technician crushed by forklift… more
- Company cited for safety violation after forklift operator’s death… more
- Operator sustains fatal injuries when reach truck veers into racking… more
- Worker struck by forklift seriously injured…. more
- Occupational injuries can send workers’ families into poverty… more
- Forklift operator causes giant beer spillage… more
- 5 forklift handling safety tips every warehouse should follow… more
- Painter fatally injured in scissor lift tip over… more
Investigation Report
A worker was attempting to offload a self-propelled elevating work platform (lift) from the rear of a low-bed trailer. The actual incident was not witnessed. To move the lift, the worker was using the controls in the work platform. While unloading the lift, the worker got out of the work platform and fell when the lift slid off the trailer. After the incident, someone who had arrived to buy livestock from the worker found him on the ground next to the low-bed trailer. The worker succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Cause
- Unstable lift slid off low-bed trailer, resulting in fatal injuries: The investigation into this incident determined that the worker fell while walking down the boom of the lift to get off the lift. Once he fell, the lift’s drive tire slid over his head, causing severe injuries. The worker later succumbed to the injuries.
Underlying factors
- Uncontrolled motion of lift: In order to move the lift onto the trailer’s suspension rails, the worker put the lift into high speed to overcome the resistance of the lift’s frame scraping on the suspension rails. This high speed resulted in lack of control over the lift, causing it to get stuck in a precarious position on the trailer.
- Weight shift resulted in equipment instability: The worker chose to exit the lift’s work platform by walking down the lift’s boom. As the worker walked along the boom from the work platform towards the body of the lift, his shifting weight caused the stuck lift to become unstable and slide off the trailer.
- Fall from elevation into hazardous area: The worker fell off the lift’s boom and went head first into the pinch point of the lift’s right drive tire and the trailer’s left rear tires.
- Safer low-bedding practices not used: The trailer had a detachable gooseneck hitch at the front. The worker also had available a tractor that could have been used to remove the detachable hitch. With the hitch removed, the lift could have been safely driven off the front of the trailer.
- Method of unloading lift not acceptable: It is reasonable to assume that the worker intended to offload the lift from the back of the trailer, using the boom as a lever, as he had successfully done before. But this method is contrary to the manufacturer’s safe work procedures. According to the manufacturer’s operating manual, the work platform is designed to support personnel, their tools, and materials. The rated work load is 500 pounds. The manufacturer’s operating manual also states, “Do not use boom for any other purpose than to position personnel, their tools, and materials.” And it adds, “Do not use the TB60 [lift] as a crane, hoist, or jack.”
According to a WorkSafeBC engineer, using the boom as a lever, as described above, to lift up one end of the machine, would place more than the rated load on the end of the boom. This would cause mechanical stress to the boom and the hydraulic systems. As a result of being used in this way, the boom and hydraulic systems would require a mechanical inspection and re-certification for safe use by a professional engineer.
The Canadian Standards Association standard B354.4-02 (Self-propelled Boom-supported Elevating Work Platforms) at section 5.3.4.2 states: “[A] structural inspection shall be performed after any actual, suspected, or potential damage is sustained during an incident that could potentially affect the structural integrity or stability of the aerial platform. Such incidents may include electrical contact, shock loads, fall arrest, collision, or cases of overstressing or stability failure.”
Source: www2.worksafebc.com
Upcoming Events
We will be exhibiting and/or exhibiting at the following conferences in 2015:
- Safety 2015 Professional Development Conference & Exhibition. Dallas, TX. Jun 7-10
- NSC Congress & Exposition. Atlanta, GA. Sept 26-Oct 2
Make sure you stop by and have a chat with our trade show team!
Client Testimonials
“One of the best training experiences I have had.” Tony, City of Bakersfield.
“I thought I knew more than I did, it was humbling and useful. I feel more confident training our operators.” Kevin, PepsiCo North American Beverages.
“I will recommend and continue to return for future training.” Lindsay, Sensient Natural Ingredients.
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