Lift truck makers offer training en español

With the number of Spanish-speaking warehouse employees on the rise, lift truck fleet managers are challenged to ensure that operators fully understand safe operation of their vehicles. Recognizing that need, some lift truck makers have developed training programs en español.

One of those is Hyster Co., which recently launched a Spanish version of its "Best-in-Class" operator training program. The DVD set, available in Spanish-only or combined Spanish and English kits, includes all of the components necessary to conduct the classroom portion of an OSHA-compliant operator training program in Spanish. Hyster says the Spanish dialect used will be understood by a majority of Spanish speakers, regardless of national origin.

Along with Hyster, other forklift makers that offer Spanish-language operator training materials include Crown Equipment Corp., Yale Materials Handling, Cat Lift Trucks (multiple languages), and Clark Material Handling. Spanish-language instructional media are also available from most lift truck dealers as well as independent training and safety products firms, including Forklift Training Systems and J.J. Keller.