How our forklift training supports diverse operator needs

How our forklift training supports diverse operator needs

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How our forklift training supports

diverse operator needs

An estimated 79,000 EU workers left the logistics industry in 2020. And skills and labour shortages continue. For example, a recent search on recruitment site Indeed showed 3,730 forklift operator vacancies.

Candidates are clearly needed to fill these roles, which is making employers look to a more diverse talent pool. As operator candidates change, operator training must adapt too.

It’s estimated that around 300,000 disabled people were unemployed in 2019 and that the employment rate for people with disabilities in 2019 was 53.2%, compared to 81.8% for non-disabled people. This indicates a significant employment gap​. So, there are many differently-abled individuals who could work if adjustments are provided.

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In the past, lift truck operator training has not catered for those with diverse needs, such as physical, developmental, neurological, learning, and sensory differences, or chronic and invisible illnesses or mental health issues. It has often been presumed to be too difficult.

However, at Key Performance Training, we can easily put reasonable adjustments in place for candidates.  Our instructors can discuss reasonable adjustments with delegates, and this helps prevent those with additional needs from being at a disadvantage during training.

How we are widening opportunities for lift truck operators

Our industry’s need for skilled workers presents a unique opportunity; a chance to broaden the talent pool and to create a more inclusive workforce.

With our adapted lift truck operator training, we can accommodate diverse needs. Let’s bridge the employment gap for disabled individuals and others.

Here are four ways that we have tailored forklift operator training to be more inclusive.

Knowledgeable Lift Truck Instructors

The right operator training starts with the right Instructors. Our instructors have awareness of the diverse needs of candidates and part of their training is a focus on reasonable adjustments. This gives our instructors up to date knowledge of how to cater for differences in learners.

The classroom

Reasonable adjustments can be made to course materials and assessments.

For example, for candidates with dyslexia, we can change the typeface of course material or give extra time for assessments for those with certain needs. We might conduct a forklift operator theory test as an oral, rather than a written exam, and some candidates may need additional breaks or rest time.

Classroom assistants may be helpful to support candidates in some cases – either due to learning difficulties or because English is not their first language. Other candidates may be accompanied by a support worker or social worker.

Accessible practical forklift training

Firstly, candidates with mobility issues can access our physical training location. We have all our training on the ground floor and have accessible toilet facilities.

Getting in and out of lift trucks can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Our truck seats have adjustable features for height, tilt, and lumbar support requirements.

Forklift controls can also be modified to support operators with limited hand mobility. We have a hand-operated control for throttle, brake, and other functions, which can help and there are also custom grips available that would help learners with grip strength issues.

Optional extras, such as orthopaedic cushions, can provide additional support for hip and back problems.

Harness technology to promote inclusion

Candidates with reduced vision can be supported by cameras, and proximity sensors, alongside more traditional solutions, such as enhanced mirrors or lighting.

Those with hearing difficulties can benefit from tech too like visual indicator lights for various functions and alerts. Our instructors may also consider the use of signals.

As you can see, with a few minor reasonable adjustments, we can support those who would like to operate a forklift.

If you’re interested in becoming a forklift driver, please see our course here and let us help you into a rewarding career.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Haulage firm fined after forklift operator died

Haulage firm fined after forklift operator died

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Haulage firm fined after forklift operator died

A haulage firm from Oldham have been fined in excess of £85,000 after a forklift operator was killed whilst loading a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

Ian Dawson, 60, from Rochdale, was loading pallets onto an HGV at Chorlton Express Transport Ltd on 19th November 2020.  Whilst he was doing this, the HGV drove forward, which then impacted the forklift truck, causing it to overturn. 

Mr Dawson was unfortunately not wearing his seat belt and was therefore trapped underneath the vehicle.  He sadly later died from his injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation and found that Chorlton Express Transport Limited of Meek Street in Oldham, had failed to put sufficient safe systems of work in place regarding vehicle movements, or to ensure that all forklift truck operators were compelled to wear seat belts.

The court heard that, had Mr Dawson been wearing a seat belt, it is highly likely that this would have saved his life.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £86,710 and was ordered to pay £5,903 costs at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court on 17 April 2024.

After the hearing HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: “The failures of this company have left a family without the man they loved.  The importance of wearing seatbelts cannot be stressed enough. The failures meant the company exposed employees, and others, to the risk of being struck or caught by workplace vehicles.

“All work settings that use a forklift truck to load or unload goods, need to consider the risks arising from their use, and implement adequate measures to ensure the safety of those involved in these activities.”

Have your forklift operators been trained in the correct and safe way to operate their vehicles?  Would you be confident that your operators are all wearing seat belts today?

The easiest ways to avoid these tragic incidents is to ensure that your forklift operators are properly trained and your supervisors understand how to manage forklift operations safely.

We can help you with our high quality accredited training courses, ranging from Forklift driving courses to our online course “Managing & Supervising Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) Operations” – please click here to see our full range.

Contact us on 01793 975353 or rachel.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Retain forklift operators with non-transferable certificates

Retain forklift operators with non-transferable certificates

RTITB Accreditation

Retain forklift operators with

non-transferable certificates

The demand for trained operators is currently greater than the number of candidates available. This makes retaining trained materials handling equipment (MHE) operators a priority.

The recruitment marketplace is competitive, and this has led some companies to become reluctant to invest in accredited lift truck operator training. Not because they don’t want high standards in their team, but because operators could use that qualification to take on a role with another employer.

 

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To tackle this, some companies are choosing to run their own in-house forklift operator training. This does not have national recognition or the backing of an independent accrediting body and is therefore unlikely to be recognised by a competitor that is looking to recruit lift truck operators.

However, there is a better alternative! 

As an RTITB Accredited Partner, we do not have to offer national, transferable certificates.  We have the option to provide non-transferable RTITB certificates. These forklift operator certificates can be limited, for example, for use only with a specific company or site.

This approach can offer a wide range of benefits.

Validation and Compliance

One big advantage of non-transferable training certificates lies in the assurance of compliance. These lift truck operator training certificates come with independent quality assurance through RTITB Accreditation. This shows that the training, examination, and records adhere to specific standards. And most importantly, that the training delivered has complied with relevant guidance, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ACoP L117 (Approved Code of Practice for Rider-operated lift trucks).

This external validation gives peace of mind, especially if a lift truck incident occurs.

Companies issuing RTITB accredited certificates can be confident that their workforce has the necessary skills and knowledge, as well as meet industry standards. It also standardises the quality of training across the whole company whilst showing that your company is committed to maintaining high standards.

To find out more about why choosing accredited training is the best approach, please click here.

Retain operators and attract talent

Non-transferable certificates can play a pivotal role in retaining skilled forklift operators. Not only because employees cannot take their operator certificate elsewhere, but also because employees are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their professional growth. Showing an employee that you have invested in a recognised, independent qualification often holds more weight than an internal training program.

Likewise, offering RTITB accredited training can be a powerful tool for attracting talent. Potential hires will be drawn to employers who can show they prioritise quality training and that they are willing to invest in this for their team.

Keeping control

Maintaining control is crucial for employers to safeguard their training investments. With non-transferable certificates, lift truck operators cannot request their certificates without explicit employer permission. This prevents any unauthorised use to gain employment elsewhere. Operators who receive non-transferable certificates are also not listed for public search on RTITB’s national operator register website.

So talk to us today about non-transferable certificates and see how we can help you retain your talent and investment.

 

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or rachel.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Transportation and Storage industry still a dangerous place to work

Transportation and Storage industry still a dangerous place to work

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Transportation and Storage industry

still a dangerous place to work

Recent research has shown that transportation and storage is among the most dangerous industries to work in according to Health and Safety Executive data.

There is no better reminder of why training is so important for reducing risk and keeping people safe.

 

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The data showed that whilst health and social work is the industry workers are most likely to become injured in, with around 10,834 incidents of worker injuries within the last year of recorded data, unfortunately Transportation and Storage came in third, with 8,059 cases of non-fatal injuries reported, with a huge rate of 171 per 100,000 employees injured at work.

The main cause of these injuries is still carrying heavy items, emphasising the importance of proper health and safety training for lifting.

What can workplaces do to reduce injury risk?

There are many measures employers can put in place, firstly it is important to be up to date with recommended guidance within your specific industry. Do you offer workers the correct tools and PPE to maximise worker safety and review your health and safety protocols on a regular basis and make sure you are adhering to the latest guidance?

We offer Health and Safety and Manual handling training – for more information please click here

For workers using machinery there must be proper training put in place beforehand to ensure they know how to operate specialist machinery. With 32,000 reported injuries caused by contact with moving machinery, we still have a long way to go to improve operational safety, including safely operating forklifts trucks.

Make sure your operators are trained correctly, with an accredited RTITB training course. For the range we offer, please click here

Ensure you provide up to date health and safety documentation within your workplace which is easily accessible for your employees. Proper safeguarding processes should also be in place to manage any risk to your workers health. If incidents do occur, you should have a clear process for reporting and documenting these.

Hopefully the insights gleaned from this research can be used to help train people correctly and help protect the health and wellbeing of those around us.

 

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or rachel.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Transportation and Storage industry still a dangerous place to work

Company fined after worker spotted on pallet raised by forklift truck

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Company fined after worker spotted on pallet raised by forklift truck

A company has been fined after shocked onlookers spotted an employee precariously working from height while standing on a pallet raised by a forklift truck at Ramsgate Harbour.  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted European Active Projects (EAP) Limited for breaching Work at Height Regulations after one of its workers was spotted on the pallet on 8 July 2022. The workplace regulator was alerted to the activity after it was reported by a member of the public.

The worker was part of a team of three at EAP Limited that were removing work equipment from the deck of a boat in the harbour’s slipway.  As scaffolding had been removed, the workers raised a pallet to the deck with a forklift truck and used it as a mobile platform to remove items from the boat.

 

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One of the workers was then witnessed climbing from the side of the vessel, beneath the guard rails, and onto the pallet with a heavy, motorised pressure washer. The pressure washer was then lowered to the ground.

The HSE investigation found EAP Limited had failed to plan the work at height associated with the refurbishments and repair work being completed on the boat, leaving workers at risk, with no safe method for removing equipment located on the vessel’s deck.

European Active Projects Limited, of Chatham Docks, Gillingham Gate, Chatham, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £5,730.40 in costs at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on 20 December 2023.

HSE inspector Samuel Brown said: “This incident demonstrates why there is a need to appropriately plan and supervise work at height. Clearly, lessons had not been learnt since the company’s previous prosecution in 2015.  Falls from height are still the biggest cause of fatal accidents involving workers.  The risk of workers falling from the pallet and sustaining serious, possibly fatal, injuries should not be ignored. Fortunately, no workers were harmed and the reporting of the incident by a concerned member of public enabled HSE to intervene and prevent any further unsafe work at height on site.”

We also think this is a perfect example of poor operator training. The operator of the truck should not have allowed a person to use the truck as a makeshift lift and under no circumstances should a forklift be used to carry a person – to any height.

Make sure your operators are trained correctly, with an accredited RTITB training course. For the range we offer, please click here 

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or rachel.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Announcing Seetec Pluss Partner of the Year!

Announcing Seetec Pluss Partner of the Year!

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Announcing Seetec Pluss

Partner of the Year 2024!

Key Performance Training are so proud to announce that last Friday at the Seetec Disability Confident Jobs Fair, we were awarded Partner of the Year 2024.

We were there to support Seetec Pluss participants and have some conversations to see if regulated training might be a pathway into work.  Through the Pioneer scheme, some participants can access funded training to help them with this goal.

We did meet lots of wonderful people looking for some help to get back into the job market and were able to signpost quite a few to their job coaches to discuss courses, or to agencies looking for drivers now.

What we didn’t expect was to be presented with such an amazing award! 

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Our aim with everyone we work with is to provide a high quality, fun, training experience, and everyone is treated with respect, dignity and care, irrespective of their circumstances and background.  We’re not interested in how you came to us, just glad that you found us.

The work we do with Seetec is an absolute privilege and we are honoured that they trust us with their participants. They are there to provide a helping hand to those who need it, and so for us to be a part of their story as a trusted partner is something we cherish.

We’ve seen first-hand the genuine difference this has made to so many people who have retrained or learnt new skills and then gone on to find employment.  It’s one of the most rewarding parts of our business, and leaves us full of emotion some time, as we see the difference it makes to people’s lives.

To see our range of courses, click here and see if we can help you find the next step on your journey.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or rachel.gearon@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

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