OSHA requires employers to make sure powered industrial truck operators are trained and competent before they operate forklifts and similar equipment in the workplace. A classroom-only course is not enough by itself to complete the employer’s full responsibility.
What training does OSHA require?
OSHA’s powered industrial truck standard requires a combination of formal instruction, practical training, and an evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace. Training must cover the types of trucks the employee will use and the hazards present in the workplace.
Who certifies the forklift operator?
The employer must certify that the operator has been trained and evaluated. The certification record must identify the operator, training date, evaluation date, and the person or people who performed the training or evaluation.
How often is an operator evaluated?
OSHA requires an evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator’s performance at least once every three years. Refresher training is also required when certain safety issues arise, such as unsafe operation, an accident or near miss, a poor evaluation, assignment to a different type of truck, or a change in workplace conditions that affects safe operation.
Can part of forklift training be completed online?
Formal instruction can include interactive computer learning and other classroom-style methods. However, OSHA also requires practical training and an evaluation of the operator’s workplace performance. Tribune’s Forklift / Lift Truck Operator Safety Training explains our blended training pathway.
Questions to ask before registering
Tell the provider and employer which truck you expect to use and where you will operate it. Confirm what formal instruction the course includes, how practical training will be arranged, who will evaluate you and what completion record you will receive. Ask about each part separately when comparing prices.
For help comparing course options, read forklift training costs and certification in NYC. If a job advertisement asks for a “forklift license,” use the forklift license guide to discuss the training and evaluation records the employer expects.
Official OSHA reference
Review OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 and the OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks training guidance for the current federal requirements.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that training and evaluation match the equipment and working conditions employees will encounter.