According to the lift truck regulations, an employer is not required to repeat past training of a new operator. To be able to deal with certain workplace hazards and specific workplace equipment, training has to be supplemented. Like for instance, an operator doesn't need to be trained to be able to steer a forklift on a ramp if that work place does not contain a ramp; nonetheless, if the operator is actually assigned to work someplace that has a ramp, it is essential that extra training has to be provided.
Trainees are only allowed to operate lift trucks under direct supervision of only those who have the necessary knowledge and training to train and assess the trainees competence on the lift truck. The trainees can just learn in an environment where such operation does not endanger other workers or the trainee themselves.
It is essential to make a practical evaluation in the workplace. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training happen at the jobsite, using lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
An operator is said to be qualified once they have successfully passed the training with records maintained by the employer. The certification needs to include the training date, the name of the operator, and the name of the individual performing the training and evaluation and lastly the assessment date. Though certain state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not need it.
Every three years, refresher training is required. It could also become mandatory to those operators who have demonstrated some type of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. Like for example, refresher training will be triggered by certain occurrences like: if a different kind of lift truck is introduced to the workplace, if there is an accident or a near miss, if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation and if a supervisor observes operating unsafely.
When unsafe use of a lift truck is noticed, it must be noticed that refresher training is not always the solution. Like for example, if an operator is deliberately disobeying workplace safety rules, it can be essential to implement disciplinary action. And finally, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice lift truck awareness training for pedestrians and other employees working in the vicinity of forklifts so as to ensure everyone will be safe.