BIS Safety Software

Skid Steer Loader Safety

Learn skid steer loader safety in this 165-minute, two-part online course: roles and responsibilities, mobile equipment hazards, pre-operation inspection, safety features, basic operations, safe movements and travelling. Earn a certificate when you pass.

A skid steer in the hands of a prepared operator is one of the most productive pieces of equipment on any worksite. In the hands of someone who skipped proper training, it becomes one of the most dangerous. This skid steer loader safety training course gives operators the structured, practical knowledge they need before they ever climb into the cab.

Designed for workers preparing to operate a skid steer and the supervisors who oversee them, this two-part online course covers everything from basic machine components and safety features to pre-operation inspection procedures and safe movement techniques. It builds the on-the-job skills that protect people and equipment.

Course Overview

Skid steer loader safety training is structured here in two sequential parts, each building directly on the last. Part One establishes the broader context of powered mobile equipment safety. Part Two goes deep on the skid steer itself.

The course covers these topics:

• Chapter 1: Roles and Responsibilities
• Chapter 2: Basics of Powered Mobile Equipment
• Chapter 3: Mobile Equipment Hazards
• Chapter 4: Reducing Hazards
• Chapter 5: Pre-Operation Inspection and Assessing Hazards
• Chapter 1: The Basics of a Skid Steer
• Chapter 2: Safety Features
• Chapter 3: Pre-Operation Inspection
• Chapter 4: Hazards and Risks
• Chapter 5: Basic Operations and Safe Movements
• Chapter 6: Travelling Safely

Part One puts the operator’s role inside a broader safety framework. You learn who is responsible for what, how powered mobile equipment behaves, and how to spot and reduce hazards before they escalate.

Part Two shifts focus entirely to the skid steer: its physical components, built-in safety systems, the step-by-step pre-operation inspection, and the movement techniques that separate controlled operation from dangerous improvisation.

Both parts precede practical operator training and site-specific training. You arrive at hands-on instruction with a documented knowledge base already in place.

Machine parts, safety features, inspection steps, and safe movement.

What You’ll Learn

This skid steer operator training course grounds every skill in learning outcomes that cover the following areas.

Machine components and layout

• Identify the basic parts of a skid steer and describe the function each part plays in daily operation.
• Recognize how the machine’s physical design affects stability, load capacity, and operator visibility on a live worksite.

Built-in safety systems

• Identify the specific safety features engineered into a skid steer and explain when each feature is engaged.
• Describe how safety features interact with operator behaviour to reduce the likelihood of a tip-over or struck-by incident.

Pre-operation inspection

• Describe a thorough pre-operation inspection from cab entry to final walkaround, using the sequence the course covers.
• Apply the inspection checklist to flag mechanical defects, fluid levels, and environmental hazards before the machine moves.

Safe and unsafe skid steer movements

• Recognize the difference between safe and unsafe skid steer movements across varied terrain and load conditions.
• Evaluate travel routes and ground conditions to select movement techniques that keep the machine stable.
• Demonstrate awareness of the hazards created by overconfident or uninformed operation, including tip-overs and struck-by events.

Assessment and completion

• Work through the end-of-course assessment, achieving the required 80% pass mark to earn a certificate of completion.

Parts, features, inspection, movement, and a certificate.

Who Should Take This Course?

• New skid steer operators preparing for hands-on training who need a verified knowledge foundation before operating on a live site.
• Experienced operators refreshing their training who want a documented record covering inspection procedures, safety features, and safe movement techniques.
• Site supervisors and forepersons who oversee skid steer operation and need to confirm team members have completed structured safety training before assigning equipment.
• Construction and landscaping workers who encounter skid steers on multi-trade sites and need to understand the machine’s hazards even when they are not the primary operator.
• Safety coordinators and trainers building a training program who need a consistent, repeatable online component to precede site-specific and practical operator sessions.
• Employers onboarding new equipment operators who need a cost-effective, scalable way to bring workers to a documented baseline before they touch the equipment.

Why Take This Course?

A skid steer’s short wheelbase and high centre of gravity make rollovers a real risk, particularly when operators skip the pre-operation inspection or misjudge load and terrain.

Uninformed operation puts more than the operator at risk. Struck-by incidents, rollovers, and equipment damage result from operators handed keys without structured skid steer safety training. Provincial OHS regulations and CCOHS guidance both require that operators be trained and competent before operating powered mobile equipment.

Worksites that rely on informal instruction have no verifiable training record, which means no documentation that an operator was ever taught the correct procedures. This course produces a certificate of completion showing the operator cleared an 80% pass mark.

This course fits into a broader training sequence. It explicitly precedes practical operator training and site-specific training. It does not replace hands-on instruction; it makes that instruction more effective by ensuring you arrive with the same documented baseline as every other trained operator.

Key Benefits

• Certificate of completion documents your training. You receive a shareable credential showing you passed the course at the required 80% mark, ready for your personnel file or training register.
• You can identify the errors that cause tip-overs and struck-by incidents. Operators who complete this skid steer loader safety course recognize the movement mistakes and inspection gaps that lead to common incidents before those errors happen on site.
• Complete both parts entirely online, at your own pace. The full 165-minute course requires no travel, no classroom booking, and no shift coverage to arrange. You finish on your own schedule.
• The inspection sequence transfers to any skid steer you operate. The pre-operation inspection steps taught here apply across machines and employers, not just one specific piece of equipment in one specific fleet.
• One enrolment at $129.99 covers the complete two-part course. You get the full operator knowledge baseline for a fixed, transparent price with no hidden fees.

Course Details

• Course length: 165 minutes
• Format: Online, self-paced, accessible through the BIS Safety Software learning platform
• Passing mark: 80%
• Certificate: Certificate of completion included upon passing
• Price: $129.99
• Scope: Both parts of the course are designed to precede practical operator training and site-specific training; you must also familiarize yourself with the specific equipment, the site, and the regulations that apply to your work

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the skid steer loader safety training course take to complete?

The skid steer loader safety training course runs for 165 minutes in total across both parts. You complete it online at your own pace, with no fixed session times.

What score do I need to pass the skid steer safety course?

You need 80% to pass. Reach that threshold and a certificate of completion is issued immediately.

Is a certificate included with the skid steer loader safety course?

Yes, the skid steer loader safety course includes a certificate of completion. It is issued once you pass the end-of-course assessment at the required 80% mark.

Who should take this skid steer operator training course?

This course suits anyone preparing to operate a skid steer, including new operators, workers refreshing their knowledge, site supervisors confirming team readiness, and safety coordinators building a broader training program.

Does this course replace hands-on skid steer training?

No. Both parts are explicitly designed to precede practical operator training and site-specific training. They build the knowledge base that makes hands-on instruction more effective, not a substitute for it.

How much does the skid steer loader safety course cost?

The skid steer loader safety course is priced at $129.99 and covers both parts of the training in a single enrolment.

Enrol in the Skid Steer Loader Safety training course now and give your operators the documented knowledge foundation they need before they step onto the site.

Additional Training Courses

Normalization of Deviance

The concept of Normalization of Deviance, which played a significant role in the Challenger space shuttle catastrophe, is also a contributing factor to accidents...

Buy Now | $39.99 CAD

Et si ? Mentalité

Embarquez dans ce cours pour apprendre à cultiver une mentalité « Et si ? », un outil précieux pour éviter les accidents mineurs et...

Buy Now | $79.99 CAD

Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan (HCSAS) Transportation of Dangerous Goods

The online course on Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) is meticulously designed by HCSAS to endow participants with a robust understanding of the risks...

Buy Now | $49.99 CAD