Academic/Administrative Procedure 2.1.4.1
Forklift and Skidsteer
Related Policies
· Unknown / Responsible University Officer
Responsible University Office
Department of Environmental Health and Safety
Office of Regulatory Affairs
Objective 2
Scope 2
General Requirements 2
Machine Safety Guards and Accessories 2
Responsibilities 2
Department Managers/Supervisors 2
Employees 2
DEHS 3
Training 3
Trainer qualifications: 3
Training contents: 3
Refresher Training 3
Operator Certification: 4
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Objective
Forklifts and Skid steer loaders are used in many workplaces at the University of Minnesota. This instruction provides the requirements for ensuring safe operation and maintenance of fork trucks, tractors, skid steers, motorized hand trucks and other powered industrial trucks (PITs)
Scope
This policy applies to all University of Minnesota departments and staff members who operate a forklift, skid steer or other PITs.
General Requirements
A PIT is defined as a mobile, powered truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials that can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator.
Machine Safety Guards and Accessories
· Overhead protection is required for all equipment
· Interlocks and safeguards are required on all skid steers purchased after June 1985 (SAE JI388). This is to keep operators from unintentionally activating controls.
· Seat belts are required. They must be worn, fastened, and in good working
Responsibilities
Department Managers/Supervisors
Department managers must:
· Ensure that staff members are competent to operate a forklift or skid steer.
· Develop a system to educate, train and certify that operators are skilled and proficient at operating the equipment
· Maintain the equipment according to manufacturers recommendations
· Take necessary action to remove equipment that is not safe to use
Employees
· Do not operate the equipment without the proper operator training
· Follow department requirements for training and skill certification
· Report deficiencies in equipment to the manager or supervisor
· Operate the equipment safely and according to department safe operating practices
DEHS
· Assist department develop training plans for fork lift and skid steers and provide support to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
Training
Each department is responsible for implementing a training program and ensuring that only trained drivers who have successfully completed the training program are allowed to operate powered industrial trucks. The training and practical demonstration may be conducted by the employer, if qualified, or an outside training organization.
Trainer qualifications:
Training and evaluation must be conducted by a person with the necessary knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their competency. This may be the employer, another employee, or other qualified person. The training and evaluation does not have to be conducted by a single individual, but can be done by several persons, provided each one is qualified.
Training contents:
The training must be a combination of formal (lecture, video, etc.) and practical (demonstration and practical exercises), and include an evaluation of operator performance in the workplace. Truck-related and workplace-related topics must be included, along with the requirements of the applicable standard.
Refresher Training
Refresher training and certification must be conducted every three years or anytime if these conditions are met:
· The operator has been observed operating the PIT in an unsafe manner
· The operator has been involved in an accident or a near-miss
· The operator has received an evaluation that reveals that the operator is unable to operate the equipment safely
· The operator is assigned to drive equipment that is unfamiliar and substantially different in operation from normal
· A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could effect the safe operation of the equipment
Operator Certification:
The employer must certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated. The certification must include the name of the operator, the date of training, the date of evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.
If an operator has received prior training appropriate to the truck and the working conditions encountered, additional training or re training is not required if the operator has been evaluated and found competent.
Privacy Statement
Comments:
© 2004 Regents of the University of Minnesota.
Office: Policy and Process Development
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/Procedure/cs_receive_use.cfm
Updated: January 25, 2006
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