Safety Tip - 300 Operator

Safety Tip 300

OPERATORS

BY BRANDON BLACK SENIOR SAFETY CONSULTANT

Recently I have surpassed certifying 300 equipment operators. Equipment operators have included counterbalance forklift, telehandler, skid steer, boom lift, and scissor lift. I have certified these operators as an iVes Certified Trainer. Qualified training continues to be an issue in all industries. Qualified training takes time, money, and a passion for what is being trained. As a tradesman, the most common form of equipment training is a salesperson or rental company showing a video, giving a test, and giving out a certificate. There are even more tradesmen that are only trained by trial and error or by other tradesmen that were not properly trained. By not committing to the proper time, money, and training for equipment operators; employers are not setting their employees up for success. The qualified training will provide the operator with the knowledge and skill to operate the equipment safely, confidently, and effectively. By doing so we enhance the safety of the jobsite, and industry. Equipment operating is not common sense and just because you can drive a car does not mean that you can operate any piece of equipment. Certifying operators should come from skilled, trained, non-bias, qualified trainers have experience AND are certified training to help operators identify and mitigate hazards that might present themselves while operating equipment. Tradespeople are our most valuable asset in the construction industry. They are the tool that we have the most opportunity to invest, and in this current climate facing difficulty in retaining employees, this type of investment can be the differentiator in an employee staying with an organization that wants to invest in their future. We do not have people lining up outside our offices wanting to go work in the conditions the industry sets for them, and when we do, we provide them with the bare minimum training or a “just check the box” mentality training. The industry needs to change the way we think about training that we provide for our tradespeople. OSHA regulations require employers to train their employees on all equipment that they operate. These training requirements may be different depending on the equipment that is to be operated. But as a whole, the basic requirements include formal instruction, practical training, and an evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace. I became an iVes certified equipment operator instructor because it was the best training course available and I want to provide the industry with the most knowledge I can. By doing this, it makes the industry safer and should save companies money because operators will understand the limits of their equipment. Operators are less likely to damage the equipment, damage property, or injure themselves or anyone else. Have you been properly investing in your tradespeople? Have you been setting your tradespeople up for success? Have you been just checking the box? Are you even in compliance with OSHA and ANSI? Have you evaluated the training you are providing for your tradespeople? CSSI is committed to providing the best training out there and have the passion to make all industries safer places to work. We do this by providing certifications for the classes that are offered, setting standards and going above and beyond the minimum requirements. We have partnered with the industry's best for curriculum and trainer validation. When someone wants something built and truly want the best, time and money become no option, they find the best contractor. Are you providing the best training so that you have the best tradespeople, so you are the best contractor?