Safety

Proper Inspection of Your Forklift’s Forks

Barry Forklift Service, Regulatory, Safety , , , , , , , ,

Your forklift’s forks bear the brunt of your loading and unloading operations. Wear and tear, or damage to either component can create a dangerous situation for your employees and anyone working around your fleet. And a 10% wear on your forks can reduce your safe lifting capacity by 20%, making your 5,000lb. forklift, a 4,000lb. forklift.

Inspecting your forklift forks regularly is essential for safety and efficiency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to inspecting your forks properly:

  1. Visual Inspection
    ✔ Check for Cracks & Damage – Look closely for cracks, bends, or other signs of damage. Pay special attention to welds and stress points.
    ✔ Inspect for Bending or Warping – Lay a straight edge along the fork blade to check for any bending. Even slight bends can reduce lifting capacity.
    ✔ Look for Wear on the Heel – The fork heel (where the blade meets the shank) is a high-stress area. If it’s worn down by 10% or more, replace the fork.
    ✔ Check for Surface Damage – Rust, deep scratches, and chipped paint could indicate hidden damage or weak spots.
  2. Measure Fork Thickness
    Use calipers to measure the thickness of the fork heel.
    Compare it to the original thickness. If it has worn down by 10% or more, replace the fork (this reduces load capacity by about 20%).
  3. Check Fork Hooks & Mounting Points
    ✔ Ensure the hooks are not cracked or excessively worn.
    ✔ Verify that the locking pins are functional and secure.
    ✔ Make sure the forks are properly mounted and not loose.
  4. Confirm Even Fork Height
    Set the forks on a level surface and check if the tips are even.
    A difference of more than 3% of fork length means one fork is more worn than the other and should be replaced.
  5. Inspect Load Markings
    ✔ Make sure the load capacity markings on the forks are visible and legible.
    ✔ If they are missing or unreadable, you may need to replace the forks or have them re-marked.
  6. Test Fork Operation
    ✔ Engage and disengage the forks to ensure smooth movement.
    ✔ Look for signs of unusual resistance, sticking, or instability.
  7. Follow OSHA or Manufacturer Guidelines
    OSHA and forklift manufacturers typically recommend daily pre-shift inspections and full inspections at least once per year (or more in high-use environments).

If any defects or wear exceed safety limits, replace the forks immediately rather than attempting repairs. Forklifts depend on strong, reliable forks to operate safely. Contact us at 800-322-5438 and we will help you select the proper forks for your forklift and operational requirements.

Keeping Your Warehouse and Employees Cool This Summer

Barry Productivity, Regulatory, Safety , , , ,

Ensuring that warehouse employees stay cool during the summer is of paramount importance for several reasons.

  • Firstly, maintaining a comfortable working environment contributes to employee well-being, morale, and productivity. Excessive heat can lead to discomfort, fatigue, and heat-related illnesses, affecting employees’ ability to perform tasks efficiently and safely.
  • Secondly, prioritizing employee health and safety by providing cooling measures reduces the risk of heat-related incidents such as heatstroke or dehydration, promoting a safer workplace overall.

Additionally, a cool working environment demonstrates care and consideration for employees’ welfare, fostering a positive work culture and improving employee retention. By investing in measures to keep warehouse employees cool, businesses can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism, and create a more supportive and conducive work environment for their teams.

Things you can do to help cool your warehouse and employees this summer include:

  • Insulation: Ensure that the warehouse is well insulated to prevent heat from entering. This includes insulating walls, ceilings, and doors.
  • Ventilation: Install proper ventilation systems such as fans, vents, or air conditioning units to circulate air and remove hot air from the warehouse.
  • Reflective Roofing: If possible, use reflective roofing materials that can reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption into the building.
  • Shade and Trees: Plant trees or install shades outside the warehouse to provide natural shade and reduce heat transfer through walls and roofs.
  • Heat-Emitting Equipment: Keep heat-emitting equipment away from sensitive areas or install heat shields to redirect heat away from the main workspace.
  • Cooling Zones: Create designated cooling zones within the warehouse where employees can take breaks and cool down.
  • Hydration Stations: Set up hydration stations with water coolers or dispensers throughout the warehouse so that workers can easily access cold water and stay hydrated.
  • Cool Break Areas: Create designated cool break areas with shade, fans, and seating where workers can take regular breaks to cool down and rest.
  • Use Reflective Clothing: Provide workers with light-colored, breathable, and moisture-wicking clothing that reflects sunlight and helps keep them cool.
  • Use Coolants: Use evaporative cooling systems or coolants like misting fans or wet mats to lower the ambient temperature in specific areas.
  • Schedule Work: Schedule heavy-duty tasks or work that generates a lot of heat during cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or evenings.
  • Regular Maintenance: Maintain HVAC systems regularly to ensure they are functioning optimally and providing efficient cooling.
  • Monitor Indoor Temperatures: Install temperature monitoring systems to track indoor temperatures and take proactive measures when temperatures rise excessively.
  • Employee Awareness: Educate employees about heat-related illnesses, provide training on staying cool, and encourage them to stay hydrated and take breaks in cooler areas.
  • Encourage Communication: Encourage workers to communicate any discomfort or signs of heat-related stress promptly so that appropriate action can be taken.

Equipment you can install and items you can purchase to help minimize heat in your material handling and warehousing operation include:

  • Industrial Fans: High-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans and industrial ceiling fans can help improve air circulation and create a cooling breeze throughout the warehouse.
  • Evaporative Coolers: Also known as swamp coolers, evaporative coolers use water evaporation to lower the ambient temperature. They are effective in dry climates and can be used as a cost-effective cooling solution.
  • Portable Air Conditioners: For specific areas or temporary cooling needs, portable air conditioners can be used to cool down workspaces quickly.
  • Heat-Reflective Roofing: Installing heat-reflective roofing materials can reduce heat absorption into the warehouse, keeping it cooler during hot weather.
  • Shade Structures: Outside the warehouse, shade structures such as awnings, canopies, or trees can provide natural shade and reduce heat transfer to the building.
  • Cooling Vests and Personal Cooling Devices: Providing employees with cooling vests, neckbands, or personal fans can help them stay cool while working in hot conditions.
  • Thermal Insulation: Proper insulation of walls, ceilings, and doors can prevent heat from entering the warehouse, reducing the workload on cooling equipment.
  • Misting Systems: Misting fans or misting systems can be installed to create a fine mist that evaporates quickly, lowering the surrounding air temperature.
  • Temperature Monitoring Systems: Installing temperature monitoring systems can help track indoor temperatures and optimize the use of cooling equipment for energy efficiency.

Choosing the right combination of equipment based on your warehouse’s size, layout, climate, and specific cooling needs can significantly improve working conditions during the summer months.

Visit OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention website to learn more about heat awareness and what you can do to prevent heat illness in your workforce this summer. Having a happy, healthy workforce is key to long-term productivity and performance.

Four Traits of Safety-Minded Companies

Barry Regulatory, Safety , , ,

As managers and owners, we want a safe work environment for all of our employees. Unfortunately, all too often it escapes us. Time passes quickly, and initiatives that were once important standards become guidelines or even merely suggestions. How can we ensure that when we put safety measures in place, they will stay in place as employees come and go in a business climate that is constantly in flux?

While we lack the space to answer this question in full detail here, there are a few major approaches to providing a safe work environment that transcend industries, equipment and facilities. We outline these “hows and whys” of workplace safety below.

Since 1970, OSHA has worked to create a safer workplace for all employees, and their mission has been very successful. However, accidents still happen, and not only at companies willfully violating OSHA standards. Sometimes safety goes beyond meeting standards due to unique circumstances in certain operations.

The following are a few approaches to safety that have helped both large and small companies to achieve better workplace safety, fewer incidents and accidents, lower costs, more productivity and better workplace attitudes.

Safety is integrated with company mission

Safe companies put as much emphasis on doing things safely as on doing them productively. From day one, every employee knows they are working for a company that would rather they do their job safely than quickly. These employees will lockout a piece of equipment when something goes wrong, will replace light bulbs that need it instead of ignoring them and will report unsafe behavior or unsafe conditions.

Training never ends

Employees are involved in ongoing training – how to lift more safely, how to sit properly in a chair, how to operate a certain piece of equipment and so on. Your business is fluid: things change; equipment changes; and equipment, building space and employees are added. As your conditions change, your training must address these changes. Training for the safest work environments is never a one-time event or a two- or three-day training initiation. It is an ongoing pursuit of the safest possible work facility. It should be a goal of all employees to see that their coworkers go home safe every night.

Involvement at all levels

While involvement in a safe work environment must start from the corner office, the mission and strategy it is also important to ensure that every employee knows that they are involved and responsible. It is a good idea to create safety teams for every facet of your business, to revolve people in and out of those teams, and to have them conduct frequent facility or department reviews to identify potential threats. The most successful companies have reward systems for reporting anything that could be a potential threat, even if it is as minor as a sharp corner on a coat rack. This keeps all employees engaged in creating a safe work environment.

Accountability

Once you have established your safety mission and mapped out your strategy, everyone involved must be held accountable. No one can shirk their safety responsibilities. If a sharp corner on a coat rack is missed and someone gets cut, find out why no one noticed. Are they doing regular inspections? If safety standards are not being met, it is the leadership’s job to find out why and fix it. Everyone must know that if an accident happens on their watch, it must be accounted for and a plan must be designed to ensure that it will not happen again.

A truly safe, productive and profitable workplace is attained through ongoing efforts, and these are just a few of the major traits of successful organizations. We encourage you to seek the assistance of OSHA, NIOSH or other private safety consultants to help you organize and strategize your safety plans.

At Cal-Lift we believe it is one of our primary responsibilities to ensure that we all get home safe to our families each and every day.

The Benefits of Clean Floors in Your Warehouse and Storage Operation

Barry Productivity, Regulatory, Safety , , ,

Clean floors have many benefits besides improving safety. Your manufacturing and warehousing operation benefits in other ways, including:

  1. Floor Cleaning: Sweepers and scrubbers are specifically designed to efficiently clean warehouse floors. Sweepers use rotating brushes and suction systems to collect dust, debris, and loose particles from the floor, ensuring a tidy environment. Scrubbers, on the other hand, utilize water, cleaning solutions, and scrubbing brushes to remove dirt, stains, and grime from the floor surface. 
  2. Improved Safety: A clean warehouse floor contributes to a safer working environment. Sweepers and scrubbers help eliminate hazards such as loose debris, spills, and dust, reducing the risk of slips, trips, and falls for your employees. By maintaining a clean floor, you create a safer space for material handling equipment and reduce the chances of accidents caused by obstructions.
  3. Increased Productivity: A clean and organized warehouse promotes efficient operations. By utilizing sweepers and scrubbers, you can quickly clean large floor areas, minimizing downtime and allowing your staff to focus on core tasks rather than manual sweeping or mopping. This can lead to increased productivity, as your employees can work in a clutter-free and orderly environment.
  4. Equipment Maintenance: Warehouse floors can accumulate dust, dirt, and debris over time, which may damage your material handling equipment. Sweepers and scrubbers help remove these particles from the floor, reducing the chances of machinery clogging, abrasive damage to wheels or belts, and other equipment issues. Regular cleaning can extend the lifespan of your equipment and reduce maintenance costs.
  5. Compliance with Regulations: Depending on your location and industry, there may be specific regulations or standards regarding warehouse cleanliness and safety. Using sweepers and scrubbers can help you meet these requirements, ensuring your warehouse is compliant with health and safety guidelines. Compliance not only helps you avoid penalties but also promotes a positive image for your business.
  6. Environmental Benefits: Many modern sweepers and scrubbers are designed to be eco-friendly. They often employ features such as water recycling systems, energy-efficient motors, and reduced water consumption, which help minimize their environmental impact. By using sustainable cleaning equipment, you can contribute to your warehouse’s overall sustainability goals.

Remember that the specific benefits and effectiveness of sweepers and scrubbers may vary based on factors such as the size of your warehouse, the type of flooring, the level of foot and vehicle traffic, and the nature of the operations carried out within your facility. It’s important to select the appropriate equipment and maintenance routine that suits your specific requirements.

Tips to Improve Dock Safety

Barry Safety, Warehouse , ,

Improving safety on a warehouse dock is crucial for preventing accidents and maintaining a secure work environment. Here are some recommendations to enhance safety:

  • Conduct regular safety training: Train all dock workers on proper safety protocols, including equipment operation, handling hazardous materials, and emergency procedures. Offer refresher courses periodically and ensure everyone understands safety regulations.
  • Provide personal protective equipment (PPE): Supply all workers with appropriate PPE, such as hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, steel-toed boots, and gloves. Encourage their consistent use and enforce PPE policies.
  • Maintain clear communication: Establish effective communication systems, such as two-way radios or intercoms, to allow clear communication between dock workers, truck drivers, and supervisors. Ensure everyone can effectively relay information, warnings, and instructions.
  • Implement traffic management: Develop a comprehensive traffic management plan for the dock area to prevent collisions and improve pedestrian safety. Clearly mark pedestrian walkways and separate them from vehicle lanes. Install signage and mirrors to enhance visibility, and consider using barriers or guardrails where necessary.
  • Ensure proper lighting: Adequate lighting is essential for a safe dock environment. Install sufficient lighting fixtures to eliminate dark areas and shadows that could obscure visibility. Regularly inspect and maintain lighting systems to address any issues promptly.
  • Regular maintenance of equipment: Establish a preventive maintenance program for all dock equipment, including forklifts, loading ramps, and conveyor systems. Regular inspections and maintenance help identify potential hazards, preventing equipment malfunctions that could lead to accidents.
  • Promote good housekeeping: Encourage a clean and organized work environment. Ensure that walkways, ramps, and loading areas are free of clutter, debris, spills, and obstacles that can cause slips, trips, or falls. Provide adequate waste management systems to prevent accumulation of waste materials.
  • Implement safety barriers and guards: Install safety barriers, guardrails, and bollards to protect pedestrians and prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas. Implement dock edge protection systems to prevent accidental falls from the dock.
  • Use warning signs and labels: Clearly display warning signs and labels to communicate potential hazards, such as restricted areas, low clearance, slippery surfaces, or areas with moving equipment. Ensure signage is prominently visible and easily understood.
  • Regular safety inspections: Conduct routine safety inspections to identify potential hazards, non-compliance with safety protocols, or equipment issues. Encourage reporting of safety concerns by workers and promptly address any identified problems.
  • Emergency preparedness: Develop and communicate emergency procedures specific to the dock area. Clearly mark emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment. Conduct drills periodically to ensure workers are familiar with emergency protocols.
  • Encourage employee involvement: Involve employees in safety initiatives by establishing a safety committee or encouraging their participation in safety discussions. Encourage workers to report safety concerns, near-miss incidents, or potential hazards, and reward proactive safety behavior.

Partnering with a professional material handling company gives you insight from industry professionals whose goal is to help you create a safe working environment for anyone that operates in or around your docks.

Cal-Lift Celebrates Recognizes and Celebrates Forklift Safety Day

Barry Material Handling News, Safety , , , ,

What You Can Do to Recognize Forklift Safety Day

Forklift Safety Day is a great opportunity to review your forklift safety program and/or plan. And if you don’t have a program or plan, this would be a great opportunity to create one! 

Start with Training

  • Are all of your forklift operators up-to-date on their training. Remember, forklift operators must receive refresher training every three years, and be evaluated on the equipment that they operate. 
  • How well do you know your operators? Download our Forklift Operator Questionnaire to get to know their experience operating lift equipment.

Inspections and Maintenance

  • We know that pre-shift inspections of all equipment are required by OSHA. But did you know that by taking a few minutes to inspect equipment not only improves safety, it helps you identify small issues before they blossom into giant repair or injury and damage headaches.
  • Planned Maintenance – This is a great opportunity to review your current PM program. Is it being executed properly according to intervals  you require? Is the Planned Maintenance complete and thorough? A thorough and robust Planned Maintenance program is key to maintaining safety and productivity of your forklifts. Learn more about our Service Department.

For more information on safety, planned maintenance, service or repair of your forklifts, please visit our website at www.cal-lift.com, or give us a call at 800-322-5438.

Review and Update Safety Policies

Review and update safety policies: Take the opportunity to review and update your organization’s forklift safety policies and procedures. Ensure they align with current best practices and regulations. If necessary, introduce new policies to further enhance safety measures.

Promote a Culture of Safety

Encourage a culture of safety within your organization. Encourage employees to report any safety concerns or near-miss incidents. Recognize and reward individuals or teams that consistently prioritize forklift safety.

Forklift Safety is No Accident

We’re here to help you maintain safety in your forklift operations by ensuring all your employees that might operate a forklift, know the limitations and dangers of forklifts AND to ensure they are all operating a peak efficiency and safety. To speak to one of our professional abo

Forklift Safety Inspections

Barry Forklift Service, Regulatory, Safety , , , ,

Forklift Safety Day is fast approaching and we want to help raise awareness to help improve safety on, and around the forklifts we operate. Pre-shift inspections have been the law for two decades and besides maintaining compliance, the make great sense in terms of employee safety, productivity and the overall health of your business. Forklift inspections are important for:

  1. Safety: Forklifts are powerful and heavy machinery used to move and lift heavy loads. Regular inspections ensure that forklifts are in safe working condition, minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries to operators and bystanders. Inspections help identify potential hazards, such as faulty brakes, worn-out tires, malfunctioning controls, or hydraulic leaks, which can be addressed before they lead to accidents.
  2. Compliance: Forklift inspections are often required by law and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with safety standards. In many countries, employers are legally obligated to maintain a safe working environment and regularly inspect their equipment, including forklifts. Adhering to these regulations helps avoid penalties, fines, or legal issues.
  3. Preventive Maintenance: Regular inspections allow for early detection of mechanical issues or wear and tear on various components. Identifying problems in advance enables proactive maintenance and repairs, preventing breakdowns or major failures that could lead to costly repairs, downtime, and interruptions in operations. By addressing minor issues promptly, more significant and costly problems can be avoided.
  4. Equipment Longevity: Forklifts are a significant investment for businesses, and proper maintenance can extend their lifespan. Regular inspections help identify areas that require attention, such as lubrication, filter replacement, or component adjustments. By keeping the forklift in good working condition, its overall longevity is increased, reducing the need for premature replacements and saving costs in the long run.
  5. Operator Confidence: Consistently inspecting and maintaining forklifts boosts operator confidence. When operators know that the equipment they are using is well-maintained and safe, they can perform their tasks more efficiently and with peace of mind. This can lead to improved productivity, reduced operator errors, and increased overall operational effectiveness.

Overall, forklift inspections are vital for ensuring the safety of operators and those around them, maintaining compliance with regulations, preventing accidents and breakdowns, extending equipment life, and optimizing productivity in the workplace. Below is a video that helps walk you through an inspection of your lift trucks.

Our forklift inspection checklists for electric and IC forklifts are also an important tool to help you conduct thorough inspections of your lift trucks. These were developed with inspection suggestions directly from OSHA. Remember to also inspect any additional equipment you’ve added to the forklift, safety lights and other products, attachments etc…

Download our Electric Forklift Inspection Form

Download our IC Forklift Inspection Form

We believe forklift safety starts with operating a safe forklift. For any questions about service or parts as a result of your inspections, please contact us at 800-322-5438.

Cal-Lift Celebrates Forklift Safety Day 2022

Barry Material Handling News, Regulatory, Safety, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Forklift Safety Day 2022 List of Events

With the past two year’s events being held virtually, it’s exciting to be able to hold Forklift Safety Day 2022 in person, in Washington DC. And while most of us will be unable to attend, below is a list of activities planned to recognize and bring attention to the potential dangers of forklift operation.

Monday, June 13, 2022 (Willard InterContinental Hotel)

  • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Educational Session (open to all ITA Members & Invited Guests) Buchanan Room
    • OSHA Updates
    • Current Congressional Activity Updates
    • Trade/other
      6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – NFSD Reception (Open to all ITA Members & Guests) The Nest Room

Tuesday, June 14,2022

  • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM – Breakfast (Peacock Lounge at Willard InterContinental Hotel)
  • 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – NFSD Event/Presentations (National Press Club, Main Ballroom)
  • 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM – Congressional Meetings (Capitol Hil)

CLICK HERE for more information on the event and register at the Industrial Truck Association’s website.

This year’s NFSD Chair is Jonathan Dawley, President & CEO of KION North America.

DC Velocity is the media partner for National Forklift Safety Day 2022. 

What You Can Do to Recognize Forklift Safety Day

Forklift Safety Day is a great opportunity to review your forklift safety program and/or plan. And if you don’t have a program or plan, this would be a great opportunity to create one! 

Start with Training

  • Are all of your forklift operators up-to-date on their training. Remember, forklift operators must receive refresher training every three years, and be evaluated on the equipment that they operate. 
  • How well do you know your operators? Download our Forklift Operator Questionnaire to get to know their experience operating lift equipment.

Inspections and Maintenance

  • We know that pre-shift inspections of all equipment are required by OSHA. But did you know that by taking a few minutes to inspect equipment not only improves safety, it helps you identify small issues before they blossom into giant repair or injury and damage headaches. 
  • Planned Maintenance – This is a great opportunity to review your current PM program. Is it being executed properly according to intervals  you require? Is the Planned Maintenance complete and thorough? A thorough and robust Planned Maintenance program is key to maintaining safety and productivity of your forklifts. Learn more about our Service Department.

For more information on safety, planned maintenance, service or repair of your forklifts, please visit our website at www.cal-lift.com, or give us a call at 800-322-5438.

Forklift Safety is No Accident

We’re here to help you maintain safety in your forklift operations by ensuring all your employees that might operate a forklift, know the limitations and dangers of forklifts AND to ensure they are all operating a peak efficiency and safety. To speak to one of our professional about any aspects of your forklift fleet’s safety or performance, just give us a call at 800-828-2804.

CLARK S-Series All-Weather Cab

Barry New Forklifts, Safety

Built from the ground up, CLARK’s cab for the S-Series is built to improve visibility while improving comfort, safety and productivity.

The operator compartment is ergonomically designed for comfort and easy to reach controls that are positioned for excellent visibility.

It features removeable automotive-style doors that can also be configured in a variety of options. The windows can be opened easily and the rear panel can be removed and reconfigured to improve ventilation. And added sound insulation throughout the cab decreases noise for your forklift operators.

By combining these features with options like heat, AC and bluetooth capability it’s easy to see why so many companies are choosing to include it. 

Learn more about CLARK’s S-Series at our website.

The Four Levels of Learning

Barry Safety, Uncategorized , , ,

When you were learning to tie your shoes, it wasn’t a one-time demonstration by your mother. Rather it was a tedious task for both of you. Teaching and learning can be quite difficult and frustrating for the trainer and the trainee. Understanding how people learn and what it takes to become proficient at any task underscores the importance of a continual training program for your forklift operators, or for anyone that’s learning anything in your organization to help keep it running.

Unlike learning to tie your shoes, your company is a dynamic, flowing organization. Things are rarely the same next year as they are today. New equipment, new employees, new products, new fixtures, the variable set goes on and never ceases to change. Adapting to these changes means understanding how we learn and the stages of learning we all pass through before become proficient at anything. Being able to identify where each employee is in the process helps you minimize the training costs and maximize productivity. Let’s start at the first level of learning.

The Unconscious Incompetent – Before you wore shoes, you had no idea that you didn’t know how to tie them. This is the most ignorant stage of learning, but is the first. There are many things your employees don’t know, that they don’t know, but you do know. It’s important to understand this. We often assume “they know how a Clark forklift operates.” But do they? Personal interviews or questionnaires are frequently used to determine what someone knows, and doesn’t know, which leads us to the next level.

The Conscious Incompetent – “Oh, these are shoes and I see I have no idea how to secure them to my feet.” Or, you know know that you don’t know something. For example, do you employees know how dangerous a forklift can be? At level one, they likely do not. But being introduced to the dangers, or “learning” the dangers, makes them safer. At level one, you may hop right on the lift truck and drive away, not knowing how deadly of a situation you just created. However, now you are armed with knowledge and understand there is much more to learn.

The Conscious Competent – At this level, a person has learned a task or process, but is conscious of the process and has to give it thought while they are completing the task. “I’m coming up at an aisle intersection, what am I supposed to do? “….”oh, yes, hit the horn and slow down” they might be thinking. The key is, they’re thinking. Some like this level, but having to think takes time, and a fraction of a second can have dire consequences in a material handling situation. The ultimate goal through continual training and practice is to achieve the level of activity where you perform a task and give it no thought, or “The Unconscious Competent.”

The Unconscious Competent – It is at this level is where you desire to take your employees regardless of what task you’re asking them to perform. Whether it’s a process for loading or unloading a tractor trailer or how to change a forklift battery. When a person performs a task precisely without giving it thought, he or she is now at his/her most productive level and will maximize the safety of your facility. Like tying your shoes, which you don’t think about any longer, what once was a frustrating process now becomes second nature. It is at this level you are most proficient.

Getting your employees to the “Unconscious Competent” stage takes much more than a one-time classroom and hands on training situation. It’s takes a process for continually exposing your employees to information, having them practice, slowly at first. Building confidence with a supportive environment where they are not “hurried to perform” allows them to grow and learn at their own pace. Some will get there quicker than others, but the ultimate goal is to have them all performing without a lot of thought about what they are doing. This allows them to give time to think about how they can make what they’re doing….even more productive, or safer.