Forklift Certification Promotes Work Safety in Chicago

August 20, 2013

When it comes to obtaining the necessary credentials in order to operate a forklift in Chicago, it may feel like a hassle. However, it is important to understand that the laws have been put in place to protect Illinois workers. Following are some of the reasons why you really are the beneficiary:

While the vehicle may not look all that big and impressive, it is still considered heavy machinery, and if not handled properly it can cause serious damage. Most accidents occur because of ignoring one or two seemingly insignificant safety procedures. If you do get into an accident, you could injure or kill yourself or others, or you could damage valuable merchandise.

OSHA seeks to minimize the incidents of workplace accidents in Chicago and throughout the country. This is why they have certain laws in place. While not all accidents are preventable, some are, which means that some workers are losing life, abilities, and wages senselessly.

If your employer is found using workers who do not have current forklift employer certificate credentials, he or she could receive serious fines. For this reason, your boss will most likely require you to have a current license. If not, then it’s still a good move on your part to protect his or her liability; you don’t want to get caught on the wrong end of that situation.

When you are applying for a job, most employers will appreciate that they don’t have to spend the time and money to have you certified. This means that you could get a leg up with the job you want if you’ve taken the initiative to become licensed on your own.

As you can see, these regulations aren’t a matter of online OSHA course just trying to be bossy. These rules and requirements are in place to protect you, and make for a safer environment for everyone. You can watch this video if you’d like to find out more about the federal mandate for this training: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zerj3QJh5dk.