Training opportunities to reduce telehandler type rough terrain forklift incidents on XYZ Company construction projects

Abstract

XYZ Company, a construction management and general contracting company, was experiencing an increase in telehandler type rough terrain forklift incidents on their projects. The increase in incidents led to additional personal injuries and property damages. Management assumed issues within the telehandler training program were contributing to the increase. A review of the training program, analysis of the incidents from the past five years, and an employee survey identified three areas that training could affect the number of incidents. The training program was transferring the knowledge and skills to the operators, but the operators were struggling with attitude and confidence. The review of incidents and the survey also identified supervisory and cultural concerns that contributed to the increase of incidents. To decrease the number of incidents, the training program should be redesigned to include consistency in materials and delivery. Lessons learned from the process industry through highreliability theory (HRT) and normal accident theory (NAT) should be applied to the construction industry to remedy culture concerns. Practical drift and normalization of deviance has contributed to the degradation of the safety culture and led to increased telehandler incidents. The recommendation is to create a consistent training program and train cultural safety behaviors.