If you’re considering operating a forklift or hiring someone in your facility, don’t neglect the importance of a forklift operating license. It’s dangerous to use one of these machines without the proper training, and it can create legal issues with your company if individuals who aren’t certified are operating your machines. But what exactly separates people with forklift certifications from those without? Next, we’ll examine why your team should be filled exclusively with trained and certified forklift operators.
Forklift Certifications — What Are They?
Forklift licenses are certificates that operators receive proving that they can safely operate a forklift. Required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these certification programs identify the operator’s name, the date of the training and evaluation of their performance, and the individual performing the assessment. Individuals learn various methods for operating forklift equipment, including:
- Operating instructions
- Maneuvering the forklift
- Manipulating load
- How to handle various surface conditions
- How to drive on ramps and sloped surfaces
- How to deal with hazardous conditions
The Importance of Workplace Safety
The most significant benefit of forklift certifications is safety in the workplace. Forklift operators handle large, small, and delicate amounts of material, and accidents can affect your entire workforce. Injuries can lead to expensive sick days for employers and a loss of sustainable income for employees. Forklift safety training also protects workers from difficult situations and even death, things that can seriously impact the families of your employees and the stability of your business.
Keep Your Organization Compliant With Regulations
Not only are forklift certifications essential to ensure employees know how to operate the machinery, but it’s also a legal requirement. Violating OSHA regulations means that your organization would be held accountable for employees who don’t have the OSHA forklift certification. In addition, these requirements hold employees responsible for safe workplaces and keeping hazards away. Failure to comply can lead to hefty fines that take a chunk out of your budget, leading to a lack of productivity and damage to your company image.
Improve the Efficiency of Your Operators
Forklift-certified employees also keep your business on track. Having unqualified workers makes your job harder and leads to inefficient production. Every successful company knows the importance of maximizing each and every day, and having a ton of employees without the necessary skill is a waste of your assets. Increase your return on investment and create a more productive work environment by ensuring employees have OSHA forklift training.
It Helps Show Workers You Care About Their Safety
Your workers want to know that they work for a company that cares about their safety. Ensuring every employee has their certification lets employees know they’re working for an organization that cares for their safety. In addition, this improves employee morale, making them feel more comfortable each workday and lower stress levels.
Reduce Maintenance and Repair Costs
Not only are forklifts handling essential items, but they’re costly machinery. Of course, regular maintenance should be done on these machines to keep them in mint condition, but the last thing you want to do is dole out a ton of cash to constantly repair damage caused by unqualified workers. Instead, maximize the lifespan of your machines by having the right employees operating them.
Find Forklift Certified Workers With Synergy Staffing
There’s nothing wrong with getting some help to secure the right staff for your organization. If you’re searching for forklift-certified professionals, you can’t do much better than teaming up with Synergy Staffing. Our employment staffing agency in Salt Lake City gives your business access to employers during the busy season, for urgent situations, or to grow your workforce and improve productivity. Check out our job listings for forklift jobs, or find the right people for your team with Synergy Staffing!