Common Misconceptions about Training (and how to get past them)

You know that forklift operator training...and retraining...are OSHA requirements [see OSHA regulation 1910.178(l)] . But do you ever hear complaints from operators and even managers about training? ”It costs too much.”  “We’re losing productive time.” “We already know how to operate the equipment.” “What a waste!”

You’ve probably heard at least one of these, if not all. You know these opinions are misguided but may wonder what to do about them. Of course, you can just power through and ignore the objections. But training is more effective when the participants are enthusiastic, and you need management support for your training budget.

This blog post will list some of the most common objections to forklift training and give you valuable information you can use in support of training.

The things people say about forklift training...and why they’re wrong

Good forklift training helps you achieve what every warehouse manager wants – increased safety, better employee satisfaction and retention, and improved productivity. However, good training costs money and involves taking time out of the working day. Given these facts, there may be people in your organization who raise objections.

If you are facing opposition to forklift training, here are some arguments you may hear – and the facts you need to argue against them.

“We can’t afford it.”

It’s true that training and education have associated costs which can increase as you involve more staff. However, in exchange for this one-time, upfront payment, you get well-trained operators who are much less likely to have accidents that cause damage and injuries.  Fewer accidents lowers expenses by saving on repair and service costs for the trucks, keeping worker’s compensation expenses down, as well as minimizing the cost of fixing damage to products, racking and equipment.

“It takes too much time out of the day.”

Depending on the training, a course might fill a full day – time that your staff aren’t working as normal. But as with the monetary cost, this is a one-time investment you’ll get back later, since well-trained drivers can operate their trucks faster and more effectively, moving more pallets over the course of a shift with fewer accidents.

"We haven’t had any accidents, so we’re safe enough already."

If there’ve been no major incidents lately, good for you and your staff! But beware:  it can be easy to get lazy and assume your operation is 100% safe. This attitude can lead to lax and complacent behavior, and that’s when accidents may start happening. Accidents involving heavy machinery can cause life-changing injuries. They can even be fatal. Accidents can be extremely expensive due to fines and insurance costs. It’s better to take time to refresh knowledge and skills now rather than pay for injuries and damage later.

“The operators don’t want it.”

Talk to your operators about the benefits of training. Training and increased knowledge creates a culture of safety that will help forklift operators feel more satisfied and empowered at work.

“We already know how to use our trucks.”

This one is certainly true, but it doesn’t mean that training can’t help boost your bottom line. Each forklift is different, and specialized knowledge in specific machinery and tasks can pay dividends. For example, a training course focused on order picking and picking trucks can help boost productivity and save money.

Why train?

Prevention is a major reason for forklift operator training and retraining. Thoroughly trained operators are more likely to be accident-free. That means improved safety, better morale, less damage, and best of all, fewer injuries.

Also, training shows employees their organization cares about them and their safety. An investment in training can pay off in operator competence, confidence and commitment to the organization. Not only does training improve productivity by reducing accidents, it can also speed up operations by improving skills and knowledge of specialized equipment.

Trust TrainMOR to effectively train your operators

Forklift operators need to be trained on a variety of operational and safety-related topics. In fact, training is mandated by OSHA. 

When it comes to training operators on forklift operation and safety, rely on TrainMOR. Contact us for information on our Mobile, Memorable, and Measurable training courses—available online, in classroom and on-site.