Students Receive Forklift Operators Certificates

PORT EWEN—Students in the Ulster BOCES Motorcycle/Outdoor Power/Turf Management (MOP) program are adding to their skillset by earning their forklift operator certification through an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-compliant training course that will make them even more appealing to potential employers.

Partner Equipment General Manager Ernesto del Aguila and Logistics Manager Michael Pistone provided on-site training for students to obtain a National Safety Compliance Certificate of Training to become forklift operators. The duo visited the Port Ewen campus for four consecutive days and trained students from eight Ulster County school districts.

MOP student Keegan Jackson, from the Wallkill Central School District, is the owner/operator of Wallkill Valley Landscaping and found the lesson valuable, even though he does not currently use a forklift in his work.“It’s always good to be certified,” Jackson said. “You never know what the future holds, and you might have to fall back on it one day.”

“As a member of the local business community, we are pleased to share our forklift equipment and training with the students attending Ulster BOCES,” del Aguila explained.

“Material-handling equipment is found on virtually every job site around the world. In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires certification for forklift operators, and we enjoy working with the students each year on gaining this important credential. It is our goal to help the students at Ulster BOCES be more prepared and competitive for the job market.”