July 2011

How to choose a training on lift truck ( forklift ) adequate and in compliance with the regulations

A complete and adequate training could avoid you of severe problems should you be involved in an occupational accident while you driving a forklift truck...

First of all, make sure that the training meets the requirements of the article 256.3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation of Quebec (applied by the CSST).

Ask if the training contains a theoretical part and a hands-on part (practice for driving).

Even if the Regulation does not detail the objectives of the training, or its duration, the reference of the inspectors of the CSST is the canadian standard B335-04 (CSA) - Safety standard for lift trucks.

This standard gives the detailed objectives which should contain an adequate training. A written examination based on this standard should allow to estimate your knowledge. The same standard plans a requalification every three years (and even a mid-term evaluation, at the end of 18 months).

Duration of the training

The standard B335-04 CSA - Safety standard for lift trucks recommends a duration of training of 12 hours. However, according to the experience of the operator or its ease of learning, it is possible to shorten the training.

Nevertheless, with the new operators of lift truck, a 8-hour day, according to us, remains a minimum, for one type of forklift (in driving a sitting OR a standing forklift).

In the case of operators with experience, it is possible to reduce the duration of the training to 6 hours while keeping an adequate quality level.

We think that it is essential that the operator wishing to develop a skill on a second type of lift truck, in driving a standing forklift (reach), for example, can complete his training of 8 hours by the addition of a practice session of 4 hours.

Duration of the technical training (practice)

A lift truck is a part of the family of the heavy machinery. Make sure to have a duration of adequate practice and quality to allow you to get acquainted with the lift truck and to understand the safety rules. An acceptable ratio should be 4 participants for 2 lift trucks.

If 8 to 10 participants are divided a single machine during a day of training of 7 hours, we can to wonder about the quality of the training.

A technical evaluation for every type of lift truck (sitting or standing) should be able to show your key points and your technical skills to be improved on a specific type of lift truck.

All the documents of training (attendance sheet, written examination and technical evaluation) should be able to be easily passed on to an inspector of the CSST, in the event of an accident, or for a simple check of the competency of the operator.

Trainers qualifications

It is not given to whoever to teach; universities plan moreover four years of studies for the obtaining of the high school diploma for the future teachers...

Having said that, competent trainers must have capacities in teaching, be capable of passing on a content of training in a structured and popularized way.

Furthermore, they should be capable of teaching the technical aspects such as the techniques of turning, the operation of a lift truck in restricted spaces, and the appropriate use of the pedal clutch / brake, for example.

They should also be able to supervise you and lead you to develop a certain efficiency while remaining a safe operator.

At the end, visiting the installations and talking with the personel remains a good way to get an idea of the training offered.