Digging and moving dirt is relatively easy with skid steer loaders. Even if you are a greenhorn, getting the hang of it can be pretty quickly if you are a fast learner. So, for those landscaping projects that require you to move copious amounts of soil from one point to another, renting a skid steer makes a lot of sense.
Nonetheless, skid steer loaders are also associated with a number of risks, especially for beginners. Two of the most common types of injuries incurred by new skid steer operators are rollovers on steep or soft grounds and crush injuries, which often occur when the steer’s safety features are bypassed or removed during maintenance.
To avoid such risks, it is highly advisable to go for professional skid steer loader training before you operate a skid steer. Most skid steer training Calgary courses include the following:
• Driving and operating a skid steer safely
• Learning to use various steer attachments to perform different tasks
• Loading, excavating, digging, and trenching
• Pre-op, shutdown, start up, and other basic maintenance procedures
• Introduction to compliance documentation, site hazards, permits, environmental protection, work constraints and safety.
Skid steer training can either be delivered in a technical school that specialize in plant operation equipment training or delivered to you on your site. In most cases, when the training is done on your site, you will have to provide the equipment. Irrespective of where the training is conducted, the trainer will incorporate practical tasks, which implies that you will undertake training on jobs that you are required to complete in a normal working day.
Most skid steer training courses in Calgary qualifies you to operate any type of skid steer and to operate in any site in Australia. However, the training doesn’t qualify you to train other people in the use of skid steer loaders.
Like any other safety training Calgary, there are certain safety tips that you are expected to keep in mind when you are operating a skid steer. They include:
• Shut off the equipment before you exiting
• Always wear working hearing protection
• Get familiar with control and always practice at half speed for sometime before loading the bucket.
• Belt-up to keep you in the machine in case of rollovers. A seat belt will also protect you from slamming against the bar when you come to a sudden halt.
By and large, skid steer training will provide you with the skills and knowledge that you need to safety operate a skid steer loader and work in a civil construction industry in Calgary. Completing a skid steer course can also boost your resume, especially when you are working in the construction industry.