1. BigRentz
  2. Think Big Blog
  3. Heavy Equipment Rental With a CDL - Do You Meet the Operator Requirements

Heavy Equipment Rental With a CDL – Do You Meet the Operator Requirements

Heavy Equipment Rental With a CDL – Do You Meet the Operator Requirements

You’ve done all the hard work of providing estimates, securing the deal, and hiring the right crew. Now you’re going to do the necessary equipment rental so that work can begin.  You’ve hired what you consider to be knowledgeable equipment operators. They have CDL (commercial driver’s license) training and maybe even some experience running different kinds of lifts. Do they meet the equipment operator requirements needed for the equipment? Do they understand the various safety precautions and standards they need to follow?

Safety is always the first concern on any job site. Most accidents happen due to equipment operators not following safety precautions. It’s important to make sure that your operators have the proper training for the heavy equipment. Receiving training for the specific type of equipment is also helpful.

Ensuring Safety

Do you know what a proper safety checklist looks like for a scissor lift? What about a Boom Lift? A Forklift? What about a Steam Roller? Not only can lack of training lead to accidents and delays, but also penalties and legal troubles. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 sets down a set of regulations and rules regarding employees engaging in dangerous activities on the job. Their employers must provide training on all equipment which is up to OSHA standards.

Before renting equipment, make sure that your equipment operator has the proper training. If not, you should provide that training to your operators. Some ways you can ensure safety is by providing training, renting equipment that is suitable to your surroundings, and finally having operating manuals at your disposal.

Possible Hazards

Working with heavy equipment comes with unique hazards. Some of these are mechanical in nature, human error, or because they are more powerful than standard tools. Some of the hazards you might come across are:

Hazardous Terrain

Parts of the job almost always happen outdoors, and not all jobs happen on flat surfaces. Using a Rough Terrain Lift is essential to complying with safety standards.

Safety Inspection

You can avoid most accidents by performing a thorough safety check before beginning work. You should have a safety checklist for all equipment on your site.

Safety Standards

Every piece of equipment is different and has its own sets of safety standards, but there are a few universal safety precautions that are taken for all types of equipment  These are things like

  • Do not operate machinery under the influence.
  • Ensure that all brakes are in place before starting the engine.
  • Do not use ropes or straps to secure a load to a forklift, only use approved rigging.
  • No Riders on the Machine or unapproved attachments.

The full details can be found in the operating manual. Be sure always to have one handy.

Training

Training can help make your job site secure from almost all accidents. Sure they happen, but when you hire an equipment operator with training, accidents are reduced. Are you thinking about training your workers in specific equipment? Consider online training coupled with on-the-job training.

How Online Training Works

Online training makes it convenient for everyone involved to begin learning or brush up on their knowledge. It can be done virtually from anywhere with an internet connection. Following the online training, it is up to you to offer hands-on experience to the operators.

What It Contains

Most online training programs consist of two main parts. One would be the Aerial Training course. The other is a quiz, also known as a knowledge retention quiz.

Aerial Training Course and Quiz

The Aerial Training is a web-based platform. It is designed to give you experience with the various controls and environments you may encounter. The program contains graphics, video lectures and various quizzes to get you ready and comply with OSHA standards.

The second part of the program is a 57 question exam to test your knowledge retention.  After the online portion, the employee only needs to get hands-on familiarization from a qualified person to be ready and able.

Safety is always the primary concern on any job site.  Whether the job is big or small, accidents cause misery for the workers, downtime for the project, and unforeseen costs to all sides.  There are numerous training resources available to make sure that you can keep your employees up to date on their current safety standards. You can keep up with any new training that may be needed. Making sure that your equipment operator had training, is not only the smart and ethical thing to do, it’s also required under OSHA law.

Get the latest from the Think Big Blog delivered to your inbox.

Equipment Rental Guides

Download any of our free rental guides and learn how to pick the right equipment to fit your project needs.