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Mr. Luddite[_4_]

On 10/4/2017 1:45 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 4 Oct 2017 13:11:50 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 10/4/2017 12:23 PM, Bill wrote:

At 12 years old I drove a forklift. No big whoops. When I worked in a
pallet mill when 16-17 we all,drove forklifts. Did not require a forklift
license then.

Heh. I used to drive the two forklifts my business had sometimes. The
shop crew used to get a kick out of me buzzing around on them. Then,
one day, we had a site inspection by our insurance company. I was asked
if all the forklift operators were certified. That was the end of my
forklift driving career.

Interesting. I have never heard of that. Most of the operators I know
around here are Latino and barely speak english. They seem to be very
good with the machines tho. I did have an Anglo guy digging my septic
field but he was a school teacher who moonlighted as an operator using
rented equipment. I am sure none of them was certified by anyone.
When I rent machines, nobody asks me anything but how I will pay and
when I want it picked up.

There are a few reasons that forklift (and other hoisting equipment)
operators must be certified if you have an incorporated business in MA.

First: MA General Laws require it if your facility has visitors as mine
did. If no visitors are allowed, you can apply for a partial wavier on
some equipment.

Second: Insurance companies that underwrite your policies and employee
disability contributions require it.

Doesn't mean non-certified people don't sometimes operate a forklift but
if something should happen and there is an accident, you can probably
count on a visit from OSHA.