A forklift, or a powered industrial truck, is defined as a mobile, power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials, and is commonly used in construction, maritime, and manufacturing industries. In the United States between 2021-2022 there were 143 forklift work-related fatalities and 15,480 injuries that resulted in days away from work, according to National Safety Council. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed forklift safety standards to help decrease risk of injury.
Forklift training requirements and certification
Forklifts can only be operated by certified persons 18 years old and older. The employer is responsible for implementing a training program and only allowing trained drivers to operate forklifts. The employer may conduct the forklift safety training, if qualified, or outsource to a third-party training organization. Training must include a combination of formal and practical training, as well as an evaluation of each operator. Training topics include vehicle inspection and maintenance. Methods include a combination of lectures, computer learning, videos, demonstrations, and more.
Each operator must pass the training and evaluation to receive a certificate that includes the operator’s name, training date, evaluation date, and the name of person(s) conducting the training.
How often is forklift safety training required?
Operators must be evaluated at least once every three years to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to safely operate a forklift. Refresher forklift training and operator evaluation is required for any operator who experiences any of the following circumstances at any time:
- Was observed driving unsafely
- Involved in an accident or near-miss
- Received an evaluation indicating unsafe operation
- Assigned to a new type of forklift
- A workplace condition affecting safe operation changes
You can learn more about the OSHA requirements for forklift safety training by reviewing OSHA standard 191.178(I)(1)(i).
Forklift safety resources and training materials
OSHA has daily check lists and training documents available to help with forklift safety inspections and maintenance:
SECURA policyholders also have safety resources they can access for training, including on-demand videos. Contact your risk management consultant if you’d like to discuss custom safety policies, programs, or evaluations to help you promote safety in the workplace.
