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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
JUNE 2016
8
T
he need to send employees for forklift
training is not only fuelled by its po-
tential to reduce costs and injury but
is an important legal requirement as well.
According to the Occupational Health and
Safety Act, 85 of 1993, Driven Machinery
Regulations 18 (11) says:
• Working environments have to be free of
any hazards. Operation of forklifts falls
under this.
• All lifting machinery or equipment
operators must be trained by accredited
providers regardless of the capacity of
the equipment.
What does this mean for me?
According to the MD of MasterDrive,
Eugene Herbert, employees need to be
well-informed about forklift operation. “You
may not instruct any employee to operate
a forklift if they have not been trained and
found competent by an accredited training
provider. It is your responsibility to ensure
your forklift operators have a valid license
and if they do not, to ensure they receive
the correct training.”
What if I do not follow legislation?
It is important to remember the law is meant
to protect both employer and employee and
you need to do your part to comply. “You
can be prosecuted if something goes wrong
and the Department of Labour finds your
employees do not have the correct licenses
to operate lifting equipment.”
What is the next step?
You need to find a provider of forklift training
who has the correct accreditation. “If you
undertake training with a provider who does
not have the necessary accreditation you
could still be found in contravention of the
law,” says Herbert.
What accreditation should a trainer
have?
Trainers can be in-house or from an
equipment supplier. They need accreditation
from the South African Qualification
Authority and deliver training programmes
that have been approved by the National
Qualifications Framework. Trainers must
have approval from the Chief Inspector in
terms of the Driven Machinery Regulations.
What are the benefits for me?
Besides regulatory compliance, your
business stands to benefit in a number of
ways:
• Reduced wear and tear on forklifts
• Reduce costs as a result of less accidents
and damage to goods
• Better performance from forklift machines
• Improved productivity
• Greater professionalism
About MasterDrive
MasterDrive is an Advanced Driver Training
company with a core focus on Defensive
Driver Training. It is a dedicated team of
Driver Education and Safety Awareness
Practitioners capable of supplying and
customising any course to suit your
company or individual needs. The aim
of MasterDrive is to become the leading
provider of preventative driver techniques
that set new benchmarks, promote life and
improve profitability for all. It defines global
driver standards in road safety, through
innovative products and professional
training excellence.
AVIS FLEET SERVICES created MasterDrive in
1999. MasterDrive intends to improve exist-
ing driving skills to reduce costs in three key
areas: vehicle maintenance, fuel usage and
crashes. These are three of the biggest ex-
penses to a company’s bottom line. This is
a successful entity on its own and now sup-
plies a variety of Advanced Driver Training
courses not only to AVIS but to a host of other
companies and individuals as well.
MasterDrive is now involved in ARRIVE ALIVE,
STAY ALERT, STAY ALIVE, as well as many
other road safety initiatives.
b
How to meet
FORKLIFT TRAINING REGULATION