Get Into Compliance with OSHA 1910.178 - And Stay In Compliance: Evaluation is the Key 
By: Joe Monaco        

To get into compliance with OSHA is one thing. To stay in compliance requires a continuous and cooperative effort between operators and the front-line supervisors who manage them. Getting into initial compliance with OSHA 1910.178 (l) is commonly achieved by most everyone who has ever attempted it. However, for most industrial site managers, staying in compliance is not so easy. Implementing valid and reliable operator evaluations can make the difference.

It is the norm that even the most diligent employers fall in and out of compliance with the OSHA rules on training and evaluating powered industrial truck operators. This can happen for allot of reasons, but this "in-and-out" risk can be reduced only by taking effective action.  Conveniently, OSHA's operator training rule has built-in standard requirements. If used well, the rules can lead employers to continuous compliance made possible by cooperation of operators and their supervisors. The key to staying in compliance lies with the OSHA rule requiring the use of evaluation. 

OSHA and NIOSH have known since 1996 (See DOL Docket No. S-008:1996) that when front-line supervisors regularly administer valid and reliable on-truck performance evaluations, the effect on targeted operators is to significantly reduce their risk of serious injury. That makes the result of systematic "evaluation" of forklift operator skill (and the training they received) the single most important influence on whether operators are likely to experience a serious injury.  This is important information for anyone involved in compliance, training, managing or supervision of powered industrial truck operators.

If you can accept my observation that the result of systematic evaluation of forklift operators is the single most important influence on their risk of serious injury, then perhaps you'd be interested in knowing how to make systematic evaluation work for your company.  This web site is loaded with free articles, downloads, and other information that can help you to get started.

But, keep in mind, if you're going to change your focus from traditional training methods, what are you going to do with all those video tapes, workbooks, pencil-and-paper tests, and CD-ROMS? My recommendation is that you don't throw them away just yet. Your first step to effectiveness is to develop criteria for the on-truck performance evaluations your supervisors need to perform. For that you can go it alone, use some of the free information on this web site, or consider joining us as a member National LIFTOR Licensed Industrial Site.