Instructing operators on how to run equipment correctly goes a long way toward preventing excessive wear and downtime. So does teaching them how to conduct proper walkaround inspections at the beginning and end of each shift, as well as how to interpret equipment warning symbols and alert levels. A good training program that covers both of these areas is critical if you want to keep your maintenance costs down and your uptime high.

3. WELL-TRAINED OPERATORS PUT SAFETY FIRST.

Zero accidents and injuries is the goal in every landfill, transfer station and material recovery facility. As a leader in your operation, you set the tone for safety on site by what you say—and more importantly—what you do. Investing in a training program that emphasizes safe operation sends a clear message that you put your employees’ well-being first.

Operators trained to run equipment properly are less likely to cause accidents and injuries on the job. That means your team goes home safely every day—and you spend less on downtime, equipment damage and insurance premiums.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Here’s some advice from waste operations on how to get the most out of your training investment:

• Look for programs that combine classroom and in-the-iron learning at your site, with trainers who specialize in the industry. Waste applications demand more than general equipment training. Cat^® Equipment Training Solutions offers classes specific to landfills, transfer stations and material recovery facilities—with basic sessions for new operators and more advanced training to help seasoned operators continuously improve.
• Plan ahead so you’re prepared to take operators and equipment off the job during the training period. At Caterpillar, our trainers do their best to work around your schedule so you can keep production up.
• Follow up by keeping training topics top of mind with your operators. You’ll find good resources—including walkaround videos, safety and maintenance checklists, start-up and shutdown procedures, toolbox talks and more—at www.cat.com/safety.

Whether your goal is to make more money, better control costs or run a safer operation, training can help. Talk to your Cat dealer or get in touch with the Cat Equipment Training Solutions team for more details.