In every precast concrete manufacturing plant, machines are buzzing away hard at work, batching and mixing to make the perfect product. Although each machine has its own function and task to perform, most machines have one thing in common: they require the expertise and direction of a human. All operable industrial machines require extensive knowledge and training before they can be handled in the field, including forklifts.
“We have quite a few forklifts and skiers and loaders that need to be operated on a daily basis,” said Chad Meyers, operations manager at Pretech Corp. in Kansas City.
The Pretech plants are a quintessential example of why and how forklifts are so prevalent across the precast industry. Across five different buildings, several lifts are active in every single facility, transporting thousands of tons of product at the same time, often simultaneously. Based on the pure mass of product being moved, operational safety is essential.
The first stage of safely operating any set of machinery is comprehensive training. Some plants will utilize an OSHA-certified forklift “consultant” that can come in and provide a full day’s worth of training. From there, those who’ve been trained can act as trainers going forward. Conversely, some will have a primary trainer who offers the instruction themselves with the assistance of an instructional program.
“It’s a three-hour course to cover the check off, the ins and outs, how to operate the machine, the things you do and don’t do, and then you have a written test,” said David Lee, safety manager at Lee’s Precast. “It’s a class that I take, that I put on and then I come do a better check myself before they start operating.”
Training methods vary, but everyone you see operating a forklift should have gone through some form. Plants will either train almost everyone to allow flexibility in assigned tasks or train only specific forklift operators, depending on need. Furthermore, plants will also often require on-site recertification or training to ensure site-specific instruction.