January / February 2023 MiMfg Magazine 7
Solutions for Success
Online Training Courses Streamline Forklift Operator Standards and Safety Protocols
An injury on or near a forklift occurs every five-and-a-half minutes , equating to 96,000 injuries every year . That , according to TrainMOR TM Corporate Safety Trainer Russell Niedzwiecki , could be reduced by a staggering 70 percent with proper training , which isn ’ t always easy to find locally and in-person .
“ The fact that a great majority of injuries could be reduced should speak volumes for companies . It ’ s something they want to wrap their arms around to try to reduce injuries ,” he says .
Proper training also reduces liability and the dramatic costs associated with damaged products , property and equipment , which is why MMA has partnered with TrainMOR to offer a 20 percent discount on all training programs . “ The largest expense is the person on the equipment operating it ,” Niedzwiecki says . “ If there ’ s more time devoted to getting that right , ensuring the operators are trained well , there ’ s a payoff .”
With all this in mind , Niedzwiecki and business partner Scott Ahner formed Grand Rapidsbased TrainMOR to streamline and optimize in-person forklift training opportunities , motivate forklift operators and provide much-needed remote forklift operator training classes to meet the needs of this modern era .
In fact , they had planned to offer online training classes prior to the onset of COVID-19 , and the pandemic only reinforced the need for this option . Businesses with multiple locations must have consistent standards and principles , which can be extremely challenging for training classes only held in person , so TrainMOR ’ s online classes present solutions for forklift drivers and the companies they work for .
However , some hands-on training is a must for forklift operators and managers . Therefore , to further meet training needs , TrainMOR offers a “ Train-the- Trainer ” class , available in person or online . Once trainers learn the hands-on standards , they can then turn around and reinforce them in person with their operators .
In other words , with TrainMOR ’ s online solutions , businesses can increase training opportunities with the goals of reducing injuries , reducing damage-related expenses and complying with American National Standards Institute ( ANSI ) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) standards .
Niedzwiecki , whose expertise is backed by 22 years of hands-on experience , says that the online classes have changed their training model . He says they went from 100 percent live training to about 80 percent online training , which follows all necessary legal and process standards .
Member Case Study
An existing MMA member , with 18 locations nationwide , needed industrial training and had specific concerns about a particular plant in Kansas City . The business had been experiencing damage to their equipment — an industry-wide phenomenon occurring frequently in recent years due to high turnover and less experienced operators , according to Niedzwiecki .
Through MMA , TrainMOR connected with this business to conduct a Train-the-Trainer course
MMA members save 20 % on TrainMOR programs , including :
• Online Forklift and Mobile Elevating Work Platforms ( MEWP ) Training
• Forklift Live Classroom
• MEWP Live Classroom
• Train the Trainer
Access your discounted training at mimfg . org .
for five individuals . As a result , the trainers will now be able to train all their forklift operators — in all their plants in every state , both online and in person — according to the same standards .
When it comes to standardizing internal procedures from state to state , the online training model is making a dramatic difference .
“ There are a lot more opportunities to make onboarding situations more seamless ,” says Niedzwiecki . “ The convenience has been enormous for the organizations , and we ’ ve only scratched the surface on that .”
Learn more about this discounted MMA member benefit at mimfg . org or contact MMA ’ s Brenda Nalett at 517- 487-8512 or nalett @ mimfg . org . 6