A major building products manufacturer reports that 57 per cent of all material damage is caused by forklifts.

The late model, well-maintained forklifts of this large company are operated by experienced, certified operators.

With an increase in the percentage of forklift operators who are trained, the aforementioned situation is occurring more frequently. Why are mature, well-trained people causing so much damage?

Most trainers are already cognisant of the over-used but applicable philosophical phrase, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink".

It appears even the most thorough training is being disregarded, trivialised and dismissed by individuals who appear to be normal intelligent homo-sapiens who are able, without coaching, to put their pants on in the right direction.

For the solution to this dichotomy we have to examine the four major emotional states of an operator at the time of a damage incident, assuming he/she was well trained:

1. Rushing to finish a task or take a break
2. Frustration with the job or political environment
3. Saturated with self-serving complacency
4. Fatigue

Operators can have any of these states or all of them. In most cases it is a continual combination of the above that results in regular damage and low net productivity.

Changing ingrained negative thought patterns of the average operator can be difficult but is possible over a five-week continual coaching program, coupled with monthly reinforcement.

Who needs this training? Most operators.

Would the training pay for itself? Yes.

How many companies would pay for this sustained training? Very, very few.

Do operators recognise their own shortcomings? Very, very few.

Who will get this training? Very, very few.

And the beat goes on ...

Wayne Chornohus is a forklift consultant with Hunter Industries Ltd. He brings more than 20 years' experience in the forklift and training industries to the Forkliftaction.com community.