Supervisor Training Ensures Everyone Plays by the Rules

A good supervisor ensures that the workers they supervise have the tools they need to do a job safely and efficiently, which is good for the workers and the business. To do this, the supervisor must know several things about the people they are supervising and the job they are performing.

The Supervisor Training requirement in the current ANSI A92 standards helps ensure that supervisors of MEWP operators have the knowledge needed to properly supervise workers using MEWPs.

ANSI A92.24 defines a supervisor as: “An entity assigned by the user to monitor operator performance and supervise their work."

Section 7.5 in the A92.24 standard says the following about supervisor training: Users shall ensure personnel that directly supervise MEWP operators are trained in the following:

1. proper selection of the correct MEWP for the work to be performed;
2. the rules, regulations and standards that apply to MEWPs, including the provisions for safe use as defined in ANSI A92.22, training and familiarization, and the work being performed;
3. potential hazards associated with use of MEWPs and the means to protect against identified hazards;
4. knowledge that the manufacturer's operation manuals are an integral part of the MEWP and need to be stored properly in the weather-resistant compartment on the MEWP.

Let’s take a brief look at each requirement…

A: Proper Equipment Selection

Proper selection means the workers are provided the proper tool for the assigned job. The supervisor needs to know what equipment options are available for the environment and task assigned. Supervisors must understand factors impacting proper selection including work surface, working height, equipment weight and several others. Well-designed supervisor training will provide the supervisor with basic MEWP selection criteria and provide the supervisor with a process for verifying that the MEWP is the correct MEWP for the job at hand.

B: Rules, Regulations and Standards

Supervisors play a critical role in ensuring that operators are properly trained and familiarized with the machine or machines they are using. Also, supervisors must know the safety requirements and regulations to ensure they are followed. The new ANSI A92.22 Safe Use standard requires that a risk assessment be conducted and specifies several other requirements that the supervisor should ensure are in place prior to and during MEWP operation. The A92.24 supervisor training requirement will ensure that supervisors understand these requirements.

C: Potential Hazards

Supervisors must know the potential hazards associated with the use of MEWPs and the potential hazards associated with the work environment to help ensure worker safety. Supervisor training should provide the supervisor with a process for identifying potential hazards and protecting MEWP workers from identified hazards.

D: Manufacturer’s Manuals

The manufacturer’s operation manual is an integral part of the machine and it must be with the machine – period. Manufacturers put a lot of effort into providing thorough and accurate operation manuals – good supervisors will set an example to the workers they supervise by ensuring the manuals are present and that they are used as appropriate to conduct inspections, etc.

Requirement Compliance

Complying with the requirements for supervisor training outlined in the ANSI A92.24 standards doesn't have to be a hassle. Offered through JLG University, the JLG^® Supervisor Training course allows you to become a compliant supervisor in just 2 hours — all from the comfort of your own home or office.

The bottom line is: The ANSI A92 Supervisor Training requirement is a good thing. It helps supervisors do their job of ensuring their workers do their assigned jobs safely and efficiently. We all expect the coach of the baseball team to understand the rules associated with baseball — we should expect the same for the people supervising workers.

Learn more about JLG’s Supervisor Training course at JLG.com/Training