In December 2009 a fully refurbished counterbalance forklift truck was donated by Toyota Material Handling UK to the ITCT. This was shipped to Africa by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and arrived in Zambia in January 2010.
Jason Thornton, a forklift truck training instructor from Transaid member company Norbert Dentressangle UK, was seconded to the project to conduct a five day training course to the exisiting ITCT driver trainers and additional employees. This covered pre-use checks, safe manoeuvring, correct lifting procedures, observations, understanding gravitational forces at work on a forklift as well as theory testing and practical assessment.
While ensuring that all six trainees successfully passed these elements, Jason also equipped them with skills and tools needed to conduct the training courses themselves. This included teaching how to lay out training courses, correct use of marking sheets for practical assessments and the importance of explaining why safe working practices must be followed.
The trainees will all receive a forklift truck trainer license as a result of this training, endorsed by the Zambian Road Transport Safety Agency (RTSA).
Forklift trucks are a relatively new introduction to Zambia. Although they have been operating in the mines for a long time widespread use in other sectors has really only been in the last five years. This training marks a further extension of the Professional Driver Training Project which will enable safety procedures to be carried out within warehouses in addition to out on the road.
There is little training available for forklift truck drivers in Zambia and what takes place in-house can be questionable. There is no formal test that currently exists to obtain a licence and it is taken on merit that a driver will acquire the necessary skills through on the job training. As a result Jason’s inputs, companies will now have a reputable training provider where they can be assured of quality training. Increasing drivers skills to operate a forklift truck safely will further reduce injures and potential fatalities in Zambia.
Please click here to read more about the Professional Driver Training Project in Zambia.
You can view a short three minute film of the Professional Driver Training Project on You Tube by clicking here.
