Reasons Forklift Driving Training is Critical to Workplace Safety
It’s easy to use a forklift, isn’t it? Drive up, pick up something, yell around. Nothing too exceptional.
Oh, but wait. Those powerful engines can also be fatal when in the hands of novice operators.
And this isn’t a “security guy” whining either. The statistics are bone-chilling: 100 workers a year die and 20,000 get seriously hurt in forklift accidents.
So forklift training is everything you need to make sure your workers are safe and you’re not having legal nightmares. It pays monster rates throughout your business, when used well.
And here’s everything you need to know about it!
Stopping Serious Injuries in Their Tracks
Now think about the first-time driver of a 5000 lb. forklift pulling out in a corner. They drift, tossing the colossal machine over the shoulder of a neighbor.
What a terrible sight, when the worker’s body comes over it. They got married in a matter of minutes.
These nightmares are sadly what often happens at inexperienced offices. But good education averts such life-altering accidents.
Because forklifts can haul massive cargo, but they’re very dangerous. Only experienced operators know the limits: turning on ramps, pulling weight too hard, driving too fast. Education bangs the drum on how to combat these risks through techniques like:
- Turn hill sides by side.
- Reduce weight when moving.
- Watch out for pedestrians.
- Slower around turns.
If everyone is well-trained, you make it safe. Workers care for one another and speak up.
The result? Serious injury costs decrease. Your crew is undamaged, and can be flown home without a hitch. That’s pretty special.
Stealing Millions in Massive Legal Charges
What if I told you companies face insane $13,000+ in forklift ticket fines? Or 6-figure legal fees if you get hurt?
That’s real quick. Suppose you know, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all forklift operators to be certified. And no exceptions.
Make this mistake and regulators will give you monster fines. Plus crushing legal bills if victims complain. We aren’t talking bloody fines.
The answer is simple: comply with OSHA regulations and train everyone on professional forklift training. Copy those logs somewhere if any inspector wants to inspect them.
Only a bit of prep work ahead of time could save you from potentially very, very large fines in court down the line. Learn about it so your business doesn’t get damaged.
Saving Thousands of Dollars
Warning: You’re taking a big risk with your wallet, driving forklifts you don’t understand.
The average forklift accident costs over $90,000 in workers’ compensation insurance alone. And we’re just getting started…
Suck up the lost work, the machines, the lawsuits and the sanctions. It gets you very quickly into heart-stopping costs.
If you avoid a single major forklift accident, it can easily save a company hundreds of thousands of dollars. Do the math – good training pays dividends in near-instantaneous accident reduction.
Beyond savings, proper training makes the employees more loyal. Who doesn’t want to work for a company that takes good care of them and invests in their wellbeing? Training is one method to retain skills for a productive team.
And there is the winner of the entire organization.
Protecting What You Have
And if it’s that expensive thing, it’s so simple to scratch or break. And we mean beat up forklifts, dropped containers, cracked racks, etc.
Make a few of those mistakes and, viola, you’re paying thousands of dollars not to be a skilled forklift operator.
Pro training instils tidy load distribution, precise turning and navigation. Operators get taught to guard stocks and to behave well around machines.
Paying driver training will ensure that your forklift fleet is in shape. That’ll save you time, money, fixation and damaged stock. The right technicians are your biggest competitive edge.
Enhancing Operational Efficiency
Forklift operators who have their chops on the roping are faster, quicker, faster. They swoop over inventory to take orders on the fly without wasting moves or errors. The loading or curve takes no time at all. It’s how they roll.
And once it’s so seamless, your workflow is on autopilot. Top-class training allows employees to load more products in the precise, fast way. That’s a marketing edge.
Therefore, getting and getting good drivers will demonstrate that you care about your employees being successful. The more you can master, the more success your company can enjoy.
Preparing the Roadmap for a Safety Culture
Here’s an inside peek at what happens when you make training a top priority:
It’s a thank you to your staff. They know that they matter to the managers. This leads to higher team engagement. Who doesn’t take it to a higher level, now that they feel so good?
Nevertheless, we’re all safe when our coworkers are there for us. Employees prepare their colleagues in the workplace and encourage one another to exercise attention to detail.
It leads to a more conscious culture across the entire work environment. Employees keep their peers safe and they can complain. Managers are attentive and responsive to incidents of maladministration.
Safety: When safety becomes your concern, your teams are now capable of so much more. A healthy workforce is the pioneer of innovation and accomplishment.
Start Safety Forklift Training Today
Basically, forklift training is beneficial because:
- Fewer injuries and lawsuits.
- More productive to the top.
- Eliminates repairs and accidents.
- Happy empowered team culture:
Therefore get the best forklift training from reputed firms. Give your employees the gift of learning. Set safety at the forefront.
Give your team resources to be productive with tools and safe on one another.
When you show workers you’ve got their back, they’ll have yours in return. Let forklift training kickstart a chain reaction of empowerment, care, and success.