No matter how you slice it, it isn't right. But in a tough economy and tougher job market employers are often requiring applicants to hold a forklift operators certification as a condition of employment. It's disturbing because the individual wasn't certified on the potential employers equipment or in their work environment. You can only see this prerequisite as a move to shift the cost of that training back to the individual.

Subsequently, with the aid and generosity of Toyota Material Handling, TLM is holding training classes for veterans at NO COST or obligation for our vets. After training the veteran will hold his or her certification card for forklift classes one through five.

We have already trained about two dozen vets this year, and will be working throughout the year to help as many as possible. Please if you know of a veteran that could use this in their job search put them in contact with us.

Registration can be done over the phone, or by watching our event calendar link found at the top of most of our website pages.

They have served us, we all should work to do something to show our gratitude.

In the world of lift truck repair, gravity is often one of those things you simply have to deal with. Things falling, whether it is a fork, mast carriage, even forklift engine compartment hoods are all things that often just need to stay up. Fighting that position is, well of course "gravity."

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Some years ago my partner and I worked in an area carved out of the shop. Separated by little more than a press-board counter, we worked through the day battling noise, dust and a coffee pot that really made only acid. I'm not complaining, at the time it all seemed quite OK, as a matter of fact I could go back there tomorrow and be quiet comfortable if circumstances merited it.

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Have you ever spent any time inspecting your warehouse racking? Does concern over expense outweigh safety when you analyze damage found? Are your inspections frequent enough that hazards aren't allowed to go unaddressed for any real period of time? Are you comfortable determining what needs repair or what must be replace? Do you know how some or most of the damage can be prevented? If you answered "no" to any of these questions you probably should take a quick look at OSHA's general duty clause:

29 U.S.C. § 654, 5(a)1: Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

From forklift strikes to overloading, damage happens and you need to establish a consistent and timely plan to inspect for it. Do you have a racking inspection questions? We'd welcome the opportunity to walk with you through your storage area and point out and discuss damage found, offer you advice on prevention and repair.

Would you like to see what our warehousing technical staff can do for you? Please visit their web page for some additional insights.