Skid Steer Certification: Training, Hazards & Requirements

A skid steer is a small, powerful loader with a lift arm on each side of the operator’s cab. It turns by driving the wheels or tracks on one side faster than the other, so it “skids” around and can spin in its own footprint. Many people call it a Bobcat, after a well-known brand.

Skid steers come in two main types:

• Wheeled skid steers, which are fast and work well on hard surfaces like pavement and gravel.
• Tracked skid steers (compact track loaders), which spread the weight and grip better on mud, snow and soft ground.

With different attachments, such as buckets, pallet forks, augers, grapples, sweepers and breakers, one machine can dig, grade, lift, clear snow and move materials. That makes skid steers common on construction, landscaping, demolition and farm sites, and for snow clearing in the winter months.

Skid steers are small, but they are heavy and quick, and the operator sits very close to moving lift arms. The main hazards are:

Most of these risks are controlled with a few habits. Always wear your seatbelt and keep the restraint bar down. Carry loads low. Go straight up and down slopes, with the heavy end uphill. Never let anyone walk under raised arms. Lower the attachment, set the brake and shut down before you leave the seat. And never use the bucket to lift people.

The pre-use inspection is your first line of defence. Before each shift, walk around the machine and check tires or tracks, hydraulic hoses and fittings for leaks, fluid levels, lift arms and pins, the attachment and its locking pins, lights, the horn, the seatbelt, the restraint bar and the interlocks that stop the arms moving when you leave the seat. Report any defect and do not use the machine until it is fixed.

Attachments change how the machine behaves. A pallet fork, auger or breaker shifts the centre of gravity and the load limit, so check the operator’s manual and make sure the attachment is locked in place before you start work.

In every province, OHS regulations require employers to make sure that anyone who operates mobile equipment is trained and competent on that machine. Competent usually means:

• You understand the theory: parts, controls, inspections, safe operation, hazards and emergencies.
• You have passed a hands-on practical evaluation on a skid steer.
• You know the site’s own hazards, rules and procedures.

Employers must also keep the machine in safe working order and make sure operators do a pre-use inspection. An online course is the theory part only. It does not make you a certified operator on its own.

Anyone who operates a skid steer, is about to start, or supervises skid steer work. Common jobs include:

Experienced operators also use the course as refresher theory, and new operators use it to get ready for their practical evaluation.

The Gama Safety Skid Steer course takes about two and a half hours and has seven modules:

1. Introduction to Skid Steer: what a skid steer is, where it is used and the main hazards.
2. Characteristics of a Skid Steer: parts, controls, safety features and attachments of wheeled and tracked machines.
3. Pre-Operational Inspections: a daily walk-around, fluids, hoses, tires or tracks, and reporting defects.
4. Safe Operation Techniques: start-up, load handling, slopes and uneven ground, and keeping clear of people.
5. Basic Maintenance: simple upkeep and how to secure the machine before working on it.
6. Emergency Procedures: tip-overs, hydraulic failures, fire, and exiting the machine safely.
7. Hands-On Practice: getting ready for your practical evaluation on a real skid steer.

The online course and the practical evaluation do different jobs:

• Online theory: learn at your own pace, pass the final exam and get a certificate showing you completed the theory.
• Hands-on practical evaluation: a qualified evaluator watches you inspect the machine, start it, travel, handle loads and shut down safely, on a real skid steer.

The practical evaluation is usually done by your employer or a qualified evaluator. Gama Safety Canada also offers hands-on skid steer training in Burnaby, BC, or on site at your workplace.

There is no single national expiry date. It depends on your province and your employer. Many employers ask for refresher training every 1 to 3 years. You should also be re-evaluated after an incident or near miss, when you move to a different type of machine or attachment, or if you are seen operating unsafely.

1. Enrol in the online Skid Steer course and start right away on any device.
2. Learn the theory at your own pace. It takes about two and a half hours, and your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better (unlimited free retakes), then download your certificate. A wallet card is mailed to you free.
4. Complete your hands-on practical evaluation with your employer, a qualified evaluator, or Gama in Burnaby or at your site.

The course is recognized by employers across Canada and available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more. Team pricing starts at 2 seats. Call 1-866-661-9803 or email info@gamasafety.ca.