A typical Counterbalance forklift with diagrams, click for larger view.

ACTONLINE can put you back in control with MHE Training Compliance.

What is MHE Training compliance?

Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) is used across a large and diverse cross section of Industry from small to large, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, warehouses, transport and distribution companies are just some.

The O H & S Acts of Parliament and now WHS Acts have all required employers-persons conducting business enterprise to provide all sorts of training as part of their Duty-of-Care to staff.

What does compliance require?

To comply with these requirements companies would look to provide the following training for any and all staff (including casuals) that are to use any MHE equipment under their authorisation.

Equipment specific Induction Training.

It is not sufficient to give employees a general induction and then expect them to use equipment they haven't been specifically inducted on. Ideally there should be a formal induction programme including proof of both knowledge and practical skills to be demonstrated by new worker.

Equipment specific Induction Training anytime company introduces new (MHE) equipment or new attachments. Many mistakes have been made due to lack of understanding of operation or controls of new or different equipment.

Ongoing Refresher Training for all operators 'Authorised' by company to use (MHE) equipment irrespective of whether it is a High Risk Work Licence (HRW) or not.

Serious consideration of what training would be regarded as appropriate if a serious incident or fatality occurred is recommended. Remember there is 'no problem' until something goes wrong.

What do companies using MHE need?

Companies need help, they need help to 'keep up to date' with legislative changes, changes to Australian Standards and also improvements to best practice.

Companies need to put in place Policies & Procedures that accurately reflect how they want to run and operate their business.

Companies need to look at what they currently have in place and say 'what if' something went wrong tomorrow. Would they be able to defend their position in court with what they have.

Companies need a system that works, they need training that can be:

• Delivered anywhere, anytime - for casuals they can do the Induction Theory Online before they arrive for Day 1.
• Providing all of their operators consistent information.
• Addressing both knowledge and skills requirements of (MHE) operation.
• Recorded automatically by a Learning Management System (LMS) in the background including capability to produce certificates of completion for learners and reports for management.
• Focussed on particular types of equipment such as Counter Balanced Forklifts and Reach Forklifts. They are the same High Risk Work (HRW) Licence class (LF) but very different pieces of equipment in how they operate and what tasks they are used for.
• Flexible in delivery. Can be stopped and recommenced as often as required to fit around other work tasks.
• Able to cover many of the basic knowledge and skills sets required of (MHE) operators. Like how to read a Data Plate, How to do a Pre-Operation check, How to change a gas bottle.
• Able to remind operators and company when more training is due.

What has held many companies back when it comes to (MHE) Training compliance?
They don't have anyone on staff competent to provide this training?

• Increasingly difficult to get groups together for training. They don't have any policy or system in place to make it happen.
• They have policy and systems in place but don't follow them.
• They never get a good time to do training.
• They haven't made the connection between effective training and efficiency gains as well as safety outcomes.
• Costly to do small numbers of new Inductees using external Training providers.

How can Smart Training methods overcome these training road blocks?

Innovation is about developing a new way to overcome these road blocks and reasons why a large percentage of companies know they should be doing this training but are not.
Ausfork Training have looked to the Cloud for answers.

They have developed an Innovative Cloud-Based Online and site specific (MHE) Training delivery method called ACT - Online.

ACT - Online is a library of training modules specific to all sorts of (MHE), Like:

• Counterbalanced Forklifts
• Reach Trucks
• Order Picker Forklifts
• Walkie Stacker
• Hand and Electric Pallet Jacks
• Attachments:
  • How to change gas bottles
  • How to get on & off forklifts
  • How to do Pre-Operational checks and many other modules of Training suitable for operators of (MHE)

How does ACT - Online work?

ACT - Online is a system of training purchased by the employer company to enable staff to go online anywhere they have internet access to complete any modules of training appropriate to them. They are able to do small quiz's as they progress rather than a big exam at the end. Once they successfully complete the module it is held in suspense until a practical training & assessment is completed. This practical can be done by an in-house trainer working for the Employer or by Ausfork Training. The Learning Management System (LMS) in the background manages all record keeping.

What sort of companies does it work for?

ACT - Online works perfectly for all companies but has been especially attractive to multi-site and franchise type companies that have difficulty delivering consistent training to small numbers at sites in different states and regions.

Warehouse & distribution type businesses are also benefiting from the quality, flexibility and convenience of this new option.


Please contact:

Ausfork Training Pty Ltd
Daryl Lord
m: 1300 30 80 10
t: 0418106228
e: send an email
w: www.ausforkcloud.com.au