According to the forklift regulations, an employer is not required to repeat previous training of a new operator. To be able to address certain workplace risks and specific workplace machines, training has to be supplemented. For instance, an operator doesn't need to be trained in order to navigate a lift truck on a ramp if that place of work does not have a ramp; nonetheless, if the operator is actually assigned to work somewhere that has a ramp, it is necessary that extra training should be provided.
Trainees could use a motorized industrial truck only when they are under the direct supervision of people who have the experience, training and knowledge to train operators and evaluate their competence using the equipment. The trainees could just learn in a setting where such operation does not put in danger the trainee themselves or other workers.
Making a practical evaluation within the workplace is also essential. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is wise to have the training occur at the jobsite, utilizing lift trucks at the workplace to be as precise as possible.
Once an operator has successfully passed training with records maintained by the employer, they are said to be qualified. The certification should contain the operator name, the training date, and the name of the person performing the training and assessment and lastly the evaluation date. Even if some state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not need it.
Refresher training is necessary to be completed every 3 years. It is also needed any time an operator shows some kind of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For instance, refresher training will be triggered by certain instances like: if a different type of lift truck 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 should be noticed that refresher training is not always the solution. Like for instance, if an operator is disobeying workplace safety regulations deliberately, it might be essential to implement disciplinary action. And finally, even if 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 everybody would be safe.