Virtual training
April 1st 2004

Charlotte Stonestreet met with Mentor FLT Training to try out the latest forklift training aid to hit the UK a virtual reality simulator When training simulators are mentioned, what is the first thing that springs to mind? Fighter jets? Helicopters? Well, think again because there is now available in the UK a virtual reality forklift truck training simulator. Said to be the UKs leading provider of all types of materials handling equipment, it is not surprising that it is Mentor that has introduced the simulator to the British market. Having identified potential demand for such a system, Mentors managing director, Richard Shore, looked at the various options available worldwide and, by his own admission, was not too impressed by what he found. Eventually, he came across a Spanish company producing a model that met his exacting requirements and it is a version of this, specially adapted for the UK, which is offered by Mentor today. Virtual reality Although at first the simulator looks a bit, well, bizarre, it really is like the real thing. With a touch of imagination you can see that the basic structure is that of the forklift cab, with the same seating and controls like a real forklift, the simulator will not operate until you have put on the seatbelt. There is no mast on the simulator, instead you look at a monitor that shows the truck movements in virtual reality. There is also a monitor to the rear particularly important as a great deal of time on a forklift is spent travelling backwards. Those of you familiar with first or third person shoot em ups on the PlayStation will recognise the basic structure of the training routines on the simulator. In common with the pre-game practice on Tomb Raider and the like, you are given a task to complete before progressing to the next level. As well as giving a sense of achievement, this also introduces an element of fun, which may encourage individuals to learn more quickly. When you see experienced forklift drivers carrying out complex operations it is easy to forget that this is a skilled role that requires acute awareness of many safety issues. You only have to look at the number of serious accidents that occur because of driver error to realise that this is a very serious issue with huge costs, both financial and human. Although Shore stresses that it is in no way intended to take the place of practical training on a real forklift, he sees use of the simulator bringing advantages in three essential areas. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, it enables complete novices to experience operating a forklift without any danger to themselves, others, stock, racking, or indeed the truck itself. It offers a simple way for new recruits to get to grips with the basics, increasing confidence when it comes to the real thing. The second role Shore sees for the simulator is as a selection tool. In fact, to use his words, it can be the forklift truck equivalent of a typing test! With forklift driver training at the moment relatively unstructured in the UK with ambiguous legal requirements, it is sometimes difficult for an employer to be sure that new members of staff are adequately trained. This problem is particularly prevalent in the 3PL sector, where staff turnover is high and many agency staff are employed. The onus is always with the employer to make sure forklift drivers are competent this means the costly retraining of each new employee, or trusting the individual when they say that they are trained. Although in the vast majority of cases the potential employee will be eminently trustworthy, there is always a danger that one will slip through the net with a hooky license, especially in cases where a new contract necessitates the recruitment of a sizeable workforce. Although the simulator cannot stamp this out completely, it does enable employers to quickly and easily assess whether an individual has the core skills. To prove the point, when I (admittedly a bit of beginner) had a go on the simulator, it was blatantly obvious that I am not a competent forklift operator. Shore did say that I made great progress but I think he was just being kind! Refresher training The third area in which the simulator can be really beneficial is in refresher training. Although there is currently no legal requirement for this in the UK, recommended best practice stipulates that it should be carried out every three to five years. In fact, with forklift truck technology developing so rapidly, there is an argument that in order to maintain the highest levels of safety and efficiency, this should be even more frequent. And of course, using the simulator all this can be achieved in a few square metres of office space, negating the need to rope off valuable warehouse space for training. At the moment Mentor has two of the simulators, one of which is available for monthly rental at around 175 per week. Should a customer wish to purchase their own, this can also be arranged.

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