Why Your Forklift Training Does Not Stop Once You Are Licensed
Some people may think that they do not need to undergo any other forklift operator training once they have undergone the training that enables them to receive their licence. However, several factors may make it necessary for such people to be retrained and evaluated. This article discusses some of those circumstances.
Acquisition of Different Trucks
Forklift training is usually specific to a particular type of forklift. Operators undergo retraining once a different type of forklift is to be assigned to them. For example, you may need to be retrained if you are assigned a new propane-driven forklift. Such retraining is necessary because you may need to be trained how to detect any carbon monoxide poisoning that may result from operating that lift vehicle within an enclosed environment.
Involvement in Accidents
Retraining may also be necessary in case you are involved in an accident as you were operating a forklift. Such training can be deemed necessary in case the investigations find that the accident was caused by insufficient skill on your part. The retraining helps you to correct the deficiency so that future safety hazards are minimised. Near-miss safety events can also justify retraining of a forklift operator.
Changes to the Work Environment
Commercial and industrial environments can be changed as space is created to handle more inventory or machinery. For instance, a ramp may be set up within a busy warehouse. Such a change can create new challenges that all forklift operators have to deal with during their shift at work. Retraining helps to confirm that all the licensed operators have the capacity to operate safely in that altered environment.
After Routine Evaluation Finds Lapses
Employers may periodically evaluate all their forklift operators in order to eliminate conditions that may expose them to liability in case an accident occurs. Any operator whose evaluation report points out examples of unsafe operation, such as using a forklift that is defective, may undergo retraining in order to be cleared to work again. That retraining may only target the areas where gaps were observed in the abilities of the operator.
You should take the retraining seriously because you are likely to be evaluated once the retraining sessions end. You could lose your licence in case you fail that evaluation. It is therefore advisable for you to take your initial training seriously so that you limit the reasons that can make it necessary for you to undergo retraining. In that way, any other training that you undergo will be geared at equipping you to handle other lift trucks or to operate you current type of truck in a new environment.
For more information, talk to a professional like All Onsite Training and Assessment.