Employers are not required to replicate previous training of a new operator according to lift truck rules. Training nevertheless needs to be supplemented so as to deal with certain workplace hazards and specific workplace machinery. For instance, an operator doesn't have to be trained to navigate a forklift on a ramp if that work place does not have a ramp; nonetheless, if the operator is actually assigned to work someplace which has a ramp, it is essential that extra training should be provided.
Trainees are only allowed to operate forklifts under direct supervision of just individuals who have the necessary training and knowledge to train and assess the trainees skill on the forklift. The trainees can just learn in an environment where such operation does not put in danger the trainee themselves or other workers.
Making a practical assessment in the workplace is also necessary. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training occur at the jobsite, utilizing lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
Once an operator has successfully passed training with records maintained by the employer, they are said to be qualified. The certification must include the training date, the name of the operator, and the name of the individual performing the training and evaluation and lastly the evaluation date. Even 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 essential. It can also become mandatory to those operators who have demonstrated some kind of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For example, refresher training would be triggered by some occurrences like for example: if a different type of forklift is introduced to the workplace, if there is a near miss or an accident, if a supervisor observes operating unsafely and if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation.
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 disobeying workplace safety regulations deliberately, it might be essential to implement disciplinary action. And finally, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is necessary to practice forklift awareness training for other employees working in the vicinity of forklifts and pedestrians so as to ensure everybody stays safe.