We’ve put together some of the best heavy equipment operator training online courses that will equip your workers with the right skills and technical know-how on handling specific types of heavy equipment, protecting them from accidental injuries and illnesses. Among the topics covered include the safe use of heavy machinery, cranes, bulldozers, forklifts, and more. Refer to our list below to learn more.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA requires construction and manufacturing employers to train and educate their workers on the safe use of heavy equipment and machinery to prevent workplace hazards and risks of injury or fatality. In this heavy equipment training by EdApp, your workers will learn the proper handling techniques and safety precautions that must be followed when operating different types of heavy construction equipment, like drill presses and lathes. It also explains the dos and don'ts of drilling and cutting, and some tips and tricks to stay safe at all times. There are only two lessons in this course, structured into short but highly focused modules to prevent cognitive overload. Mobile-friendly, your workers can always take this EdApp workplace safety training anytime their schedule allows.
Cost: Free
Scope: Safe use of machinery like drill press and lathe, do’s and don'ts of drilling and cutting, safety tips and tricks
Created By EdApp
Explore this free courseCranes are popular among the construction industry and manufacturing industries, often used by workers to easily load and unload freight and move heavy materials. But despite its advantages, there are significant concerns over crane-related accidents, which have been listed among the leading causes of construction workers’ deaths. One way to reduce these hazards is by ensuring that your mobile crane operators knows how to recognize potential risks with crane operations and understands precisely the equipment safety procedures to avoid them. With this in mind, EdApp has developed its course on Crane Safety to equip your team with some crane operation strategies, train them how to identify and assess crane hazards, and also teach them ways to control and minimize them. Similar to most crane training online courses, it also presents the correct way of setting up cranes, operating and maneuvering such heavy equipment, and inspecting lifting gear.
The best thing about this mini training is that it is fully editable and can be customized to your preference. You can edit the font, theme, and background, plus you can also make use of EdApp’s gamification and spaced repetition features to increase your employees’ engagement rate.
Cost: Free
Scope: Managing risks associated with operating cranes, safety measures before use, setting up cranes safely, lifting procedures, inspecting lifting gear
Created by EdApp
Explore the courseCrane rigging involves moving, placing, and securing hefty objects that can weigh hundreds of tons. And so, to maintain a safe operation, rigging operators must be aware of the basics of crane rigging and the best practices for using heavy equipment. For all the necessary rigging knowledge and skills you need, EdApp’s Basic Rigging course has everything covered. This course discusses the general safety rules to crane rigging, the importance of communicating with crane operators, selecting slings and hooks, and the correct usage information of these lifting accessories. It also tackles the different types of hitch configurations that crane riggers can use, like Choke Hitch and Double Choke Hitch.
This EdApp course has a total of five comprehensive micro elearning lessons that your workforce can complete in just minutes.
Cost: Free
Scope: Crane Rigging definition, choosing the right lifting accessory, hitch types and terminology, communicating with crane operators
Created by EdApp
Explore the courseEquip your workers with safe work practices when handling different aerial and scissor lifts with this heavy equipment operator training by the Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School. This course digs deep into different hazards associated with the operation of these types of heavy equipment, as well as inspection standards, aiming to ensure that all lift tools work and function as safely as designed. This course is only 20 minutes long, perfect for the busy schedules of your heavy equipment operators.
Cost: $69.99 USD
Scope: Types of aerial and scissor lifts, hazards present in the workplace, safe work practices, pre-operation inspection requirements
Created by Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School
Explore the courseA bulldozer is a common type of heavy equipment used in construction job sites that comes with large and heavy push blades in front. Without enough knowledge on its use and handling, operators could be severely injured if it tips or rolls over or collides with other vehicles. 360training designed their bulldozer training course to prepare new operators on how to properly and safely use this heavy equipment before they take this job. Here, they will learn the anatomy of a bulldozer, different hazards associated with it, and safety practices for pushing and leveling construction materials like sand, soil, dirt, and debris, preventing bulldozer-related injuries. This course is 100% online and can be completed at their own pace.
Cost: $79.00 USD
Scope: How to safely operate a bulldozer or track and wheel dozer
Created by 360training
Explore the courseA forklift is a very powerful tool that allows a person to move freight and heavy objects quicker, easier, and hassle-free. However, just like any other heavy equipment, the use of this tool also comes with a range of hazards that operators need to look out for. EdApp’s Forklift Operation Safety course builds on your knowledge on how to safely operate forklift vehicles to reduce accidents and fatalities on worksite. Here, you can expect a 3-part course covering step-by-step procedures on performing visual and operational checks, traveling and maneuvering your forklift, and safe load handling. If you are using forklifts in your role or are interested in understanding the best practices, this course is your best choice.
This course is free and ready to deploy, so feel free to import it to your training courseware and distribute it to your team. It is also accessible through smartphones and tablets, so your learners can learn on the go.
Cost: Free
Scope: How to safely operate forklifts, performing visual and operational checks, traveling and maneuvering your forklift, and safe load handling.
Created by EdApp
Explore the courseThis OSHAcademy course will also provide your operators the skills and knowledge on how to operate different forklifts commonly used in construction sites and indoor areas like manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers. Here, your workforce will learn the safest methods to lift and move heavy loads based on the principles of physics, some basic operator safety rules, and primary workplace conditions that can make forklift use hazardous. It will also teach them some traffic patterns when driving a forklift vehicle to prevent accidents. This Basic Forklift Safety Course is 100% online and free, although you will have to pay an additional $16 to $28 USD for a certificate package.
Cost: Free with paid certificate
Scope: How to safely lift and move heavy loads, basic operator safety rules, primary workplace conditions making forklift use hazardous, traffic patterns when driving a forklift vehicle
Created by OSHAcademy
Explore the courseMachine guard is an invaluable protective device that protects workers from the massive energy generated and utilized by industrial machines. It also keeps them safe from minor abrasions and cuts to fatal injuries like fractures and lacerations, ensuring optimal safety while they are at work. In this EdApp Machine Guarding course, your workforce will have a general understanding of their responsibilities as machine operators as well as the hazards of working with different types of heavy equipment like lathes, conveyor belts, and metal stamping machines. It will also show them the step-by-step machine guarding methods, inspection, and equipment maintenance practices to reduce risks of injury.
Upon course completion, your team will be asked to complete a short assessment quiz to check how much they remember from their lessons. EdApp has also gamified this quiz and reinforced a star-based scoring system to make it more fun and exciting for your learners.
Cost: Free
Scope: Responsibilities as machine operators, hazards associated with different types of heavy equipment, machine guarding methods, inspection and maintenance
Created by EdApp
Explore the courseClickSafety’s Machine Guarding for General Industry is also a specialized training program focused on the safety standards for machine guarding as prescribed by federal OSHA regulation. This course is designed specifically for operation managers, supervisors, and workers directly involved with handling and operating heavy machinery in general industries like warehousing, distribution, property management, trade and transportation, and retail services. At the end of this training, course takers are expected to learn more about the safe use of machine guards as well as how to identify if the devices are being used correctly. It will also help them understand common terminologies used when working with machine guards, like PPE, lockout/tag-out (LOTO), power transmission device, and operating controls.
Cost: $35.00 USD
Scope: Workplace standards as prescribed by federal OSHA regulations safe use of machine guards, safe use of machine guards, specific industry terms
Created by ClickSafety
Explore the courseConstruction workers are often required to carry, use and operate heavy equipment to speed up and increase the efficiency of their tasks. Unfortunately, it exposes them to a range of health hazards and physical injuries like cuts or burns, fractures, head injuries, even loss of life. One way to eliminate or at least minimize these risks is by wearing personal protective equipment, or as we all call it PPE. EdApp’s Personal Protective Equipment PPE for Construction course highlights the critical importance of using PPE and guides your workers in selecting the suitable type of protective equipment needed for the nature of their job. It also emphasizes the functions and benefits of wearing a hard hat or safety helmet, which protects a person from falling objects, colliding with fixed objects, and coming into contact with electrical machines.
This EdApp training course is free and editable, meaning, you can rework the content as needed, or even change the theme and add your logo so that it matches your branding style.
Cost: Free
Scope: Introduction to PPE, types of PPE, the importance of hard hats
Created by EdApp
Explore the courseCranes, forklifts, trucks, front end loaders, and bulldozers - these types of heavy equipment, among many others, play a crucial role across different industries, especially in construction, shipping, and manufacturing businesses. They carry out heavy manual labour, such as lifting and moving hefty materials, conducting excavation and trenching works, or digging holes, making the overall work more economical and accurate. But despite all these efficiency gains, such tools can quickly go from useful to risky, especially if the operators lack the technical skills and knowledge required to operate and maneuver them. This is why it is extremely vital that they first undergo safety training before taking the job. Providing them with heavy equipment operator training online courses will not only protect your business from damage costs but also help save lives in your workplace.