Depending on what province you farm in, you may be obligated by provincial workplace health and safety regulations to provide training to any employee using specialized equipment in your farm shop. Aside from increasing the likelihood of an accident by not doing so, you may be prosecuted if a worker gets injured.
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) offers a training DVD that farmers can use to educate employees on safe operation of a vehicle hoist. The DVD, hosted by NASCAR drivers Kyle and Richard Petty, covers the basics of use. It also includes forms that can be printed out and used to give employees a written examination to keep on file, proving workers have been trained.
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Bob O’Gorman, president of ALI, says the DVD course is recognized by U.S. health and safety regulators as acceptable training for shop workers, so it’s likely to be considered sufficient training in Canada, too. It can be ordered directly from ALI’s website www.autolift.org for U.S.$78 plus shipping costs.
Even if you don’t have employees but have a lift in your own shop, the DVD is a great learning opportunity. Given the short time required to watch it and the potential benefits it provides, it’s bound to be money well spent.
