Forklift Training at IOT in Seychelles: The Trainer’s Perspective.

By Henry Wandera on 9 May 2022

Forklifts are used for moving materials in factories, warehouses, and retail stores across the world every day. However, forklift operators must be trained to safely and efficiently perform their jobs, especially to mitigate the risk of injury or death. I was recently in Seychelles to train Indian Ocean Tuna Company (IOT) forklift operators on how to prevent accidents and remain safe when using this valuable piece of equipment at their tuna factory in Victoria, Mahe Island.

Indian Ocean Tuna Company (IOT) is a producer and exporter of canned tuna products. Located in Mahé, Seychelles, it produces tuna products under its flagship brand Paradise Tuna, which is sold to customers around the world. The visit to the Indian Ocean Tuna Company was a great success. The company asked us to train their forklift trainers so they could attain forklift licenses within a period of 1 week. All operators had previous experience, but they wanted to get licensed so that they can acquire skills in training other operators at the company. Despite my warnings that if they didn’t complete and pass their forklift license training that they would not be allowed to work or train on-site, all of them seemed pretty enthusiastic about getting certified.

Since forklifts are so important to running a fishing company, training operators is imperative. In order to train forklift operators and ensure safety is observed, candidates must have obtained a forklift license issued by an accredited training institute such as the Wheelset Academy of Machine Operators. Because of that, most of my job involved training the trainers of forklift operators. The pictures below show the 4 trainers presented to me by Sandra Pool, the company’s human resource administrator.

Daniel George Florentine
forklift training at wheelset academy
Mihajarijaona Razafindramanana
Francis Ndungu Waithira
Santhosh Kumar Ayyappan Nair

These candidates always thought of themselves as experienced operators. After a few days of training how to teach other operators, they were humbled and learned that there is always something to learn!

What was expected of the trainers?

When preparing for any kind of forklift operator training, it’s important to have access to materials that will both test learners’ knowledge and advance their skills. Taking part in a training program is key to refining their abilities and ensuring that they’re safe and efficient on a moving lift truck. Trainers learned how to facilitate the forklift training sessions. The course included techniques for teaching workers how to operate specific forklifts within various environments, as well as safety protocols for handling loads. The training programs facilitated by the trainers will also require learners to pass a written or practical test before they can earn their credentials in the workplace.

My Role as Instructor on behalf of Wheelset Academy

As an instructor, I developed all the training materials, assessments, and a standard forklift safety program for the company. The IOT company is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment and to protecting its employees from injury or any death caused by uncontrolled hazards in the workplace. The Forklift safety program was established to reduce the risk of physical injury or property damage in areas where powered forklifts and other powered material handling equipment are used. The Forklift safety program and procedures will be reviewed annually. Refresher training will be conducted to ensure that all operators have the knowledge and skills needed to operate forklifts safely.

It’s great to consider a variety of training courses and improve your employees’ skills. Some businesses might not have enough budget for forklift training or even even aware of government regulations for driven machinery. Be sure to research all aspects of forklift training before committing your business to it. To sum up, if you have forklift operators and safety concerns, forklift training can be an excellent resource for you and your staff!

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