Danny Maron used to train potential forklift operators at one of Canada's leading forklift dealerships. Today, he provides training through his own business and a local university. Maron is proprietor and sole trainer of Ottawa-based Ideal Forklift Training (IFT), an apt name for a company aiming to see forklift safety standards raised.
The IFT website says training is available to businesses, governments and individuals, 24 hours a day, so it's no surprise that Maron, 51, has little time to relax.
"Relax? No-one told me I was supposed to relax after a long day of training," he muses.
A typical "training day" starts at 8am. He spends the first four-and-a-half hours presenting forklift theory, has a half-hour break and resumes the session by talking about propane or battery usage. After showing forklift safety films to students, he gives out written tests. Once they are completed, the practical portion of the course commences. So that's just 10 hours of the work day with the students who want to get certified in forklift safety.
Work doesn't end there for Maron. At home, he checks his email and phone messages before dinner. After dinner, he starts tackling the paperwork from the day's session.
"For those who have successfully completed the theory portion, certificates are prepared, and I do a detailed record of training for each operator, which could take well into the next day to complete. Once the invoice is drawn up, I'm done."
Maron's wife, who has a graphic design background, helps to prepare his students' certificates, training materials and operator permits. Apart from that, Maron works on his own, and so prefers not to train more than three days a week.
"Occasionally, I will train four but I find that very chaotic as it puts me behind in providing paperwork to the operators and clients who are often anxious to receive these documents."
The independent entrepreneur is equally busy on days he is not training. He prepares for future classes, does post-class paperwork, makes phone calls, distributes paperwork to clients and purchases supplies and services.
Work was less hectic when Maron was an employee of the Ontario branch of Toronto-based JH Ryder Machinery. JH Ryder represents Nissan, Clark, Crown, Daewoo, Cushman and Sellick forklifts.
"When I felt I couldn't grow any further within the organisation, we amicably parted ways."
Several clients contacted Maron and encouraged him to start his own consulting business, which he has been building for the past seven years.
He believes more must be done to make forklift safety training a priority.
"A forklift, whether it is a powered walkie, sit-down counter-balanced, or a zoom boom, needs to always be treated with respect, and not as a cool toy."
Maron has a few gripes about the obstacles he sees in his chosen career.
"First and foremost, the lack of government intervention in the operator safety aspect of forklifts ... too many businesses are either procrastinating or ignoring laws, and taking their chances not having staff trained.
"Then there are individuals only in it for the money, undercutting the regulars just to pick up a few dollars on the weekend. They are definitely not doing anyone any favours - not to the operator and the businesses who hire them for their low pricing.
"Finally, all requests that start with the question: How much do you charge for six individuals? Management can be more concerned about fulfilling their due diligence than they are with the quality of training provided."
Maron would like to see more content on Forkliftaction.com educating employers on how to choose proper and dedicated forklift trainers.
"At the end of the day, it all comes down to safety as a forklift can always be repaired and that can't be said about a human life."
The father of two says he is too busy for hobbies but enjoys relaxing by the pool, soaking up the summer sun and sharing his scale-model railway with his family.
Danny Maron holds post-secondary engineering qualifications and is an associate professor at Kemptville College, part of the University of Guelph, about 50km south of Ottawa. He trains there once a month on the weekends and will soon join
forkliftaction.com's pool of "Safety First" contributors.