 Beware of trainers who take the money and run.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK |
Danny Maron, owner/trainer of Ideal Forklift Training in Canada's national capital, is an independent consultant, providing the education lift truck operators require, to businesses and government, to minimise the chance of incidents in the workplace. Before founding Ideal in 2000, Danny was a trainer at Canada's largest forklift dealer.
Some of you may have seen a recent newspaper article about the arrest of the New York City building department acting chief inspector of cranes. According to the reports. James Delayo, 60, a 26-year veteran of the department, on numerous occasions between 2002 and 2007, met with the owner of a Long Island-based crane company and accepted numerous bribes for passing individuals, whether or not they had passed the written and practical exams. Investigators have found no evidence linking Delayo's arrest with either crane accident that killed two workers on East 91st Street in Manhattan or an accident on 51st Street in March that killed seven, the city's department of investigation is reported as saying.
While this case is extreme, it reminds me of forklift trainers who take funds from various companies and follow the in-out policy, getting the job done in the quickest period of time, and passing their students, regardless. There are trainers whose only goal is to collect as much cash as possible - in the shortest period of time, with the least amount of effort, and at the cheapest cost. I guess this type of attitude stretches well beyond the little guy and goes right to the top. Is taking an outright bribe the same as someone who does little, or next to nothing (when it comes to training), and collects a fee for doing so?
Same picture but different wording? I personally know of trainers who do not bother watching their participants drive; train on forklifts that their participants don't even operate or handle; and finish off in record time, simply to earn a buck. Isn't that the same as taking a bribe?
Who would be accountable for this? The trainer? The company which wants to pay the least to get the bare minimum? The government for not weeding out the bad apples? Or our society for accepting such practices and not doing a darn thing about it, unless it hits close to home?
And shame on those companies which encourage the trainers to take the shortest, fastest route in order to get their 'boys' back on the floor! You risk lives and your business by doing so, and it may end up costing you more than just a few bucks! It's easy for you to take the day off to go play golf or socialise, spend big bucks and take your time in doing so, but hey, what about your employees who risk their lives, and possibly yours, so you can keep up your production, and earn your almighty buck?
Who cares about the lives of the ordinary blue collar worker other than some trainers who conscientiously take the time to educate their students, follow proper and consistent policies and procedures while following government protocols, and yes, take the time to actually watch them drive, giving out pointers, correcting their driving errors, and improving their overall skill sets?
I am no union person and whether an individual belongs to one or not makes no difference to me. I am an independent business person, solely training individuals on the safe and proper use of powered industrial lift trucks, and I come across this non-sense every day. How much, and how long?
If you are a trainer cheating your clients and their staff out of an all important education, provide a meaningful session and EARN your pay, or simply get out of the business, because one day, maybe even after 26 years on the job, you may find yourself in the same position as the fella above, and there will be those just waiting for you to come knocking on their doorsteps.
Whether Mr. Delayo is guilty is up to the courts to decide. I do not know this man, and I have nothing against him personally. What I do hope comes out of this is an education for all, because as humans, we learn from our mistakes, or possibly the mistakes of others, and jail and stiff fines hit far more emotionally, than a dead employee.
And therefore, all I have to say to businesses seeking out qualified trainers is 'Do your research, see who the trainer's clients are, and speak to those clients, find out how they feel about the trainer, and the service they are receiving. Yes, it will take about an hour of your golf time or your executive lunch, but do it for your staff, do it for your company, and most of all, do it for yourself. For your own peace of mind, it will make you a model corporate citizen, and a respected boss. Just ask the clients that I service!