According to the forklift rules, an employer is not required to replicate past training of a new operator. To be able to deal with particular workplace hazards and specific workplace equipment, training needs to be supplemented. For instance, an operator doesn't have to be trained to steer a lift truck on a ramp if that place of work does not contain a ramp; nonetheless, if the operator is actually assigned to work somewhere that has a ramp, it is vital that extra training needs to be offered.
Trainees may 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 can only learn in a setting where such operation does not endanger the trainee themselves or other workers.
Making a practical assessment within the workplace is also essential. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training happen at the workplace, using lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
An operator is said to be certified when they have successfully passed the training with records maintained by the employer. The certification must include the training date, the operator name, and the name of the person performing the assessment and training and lastly the date of assessment. Even though certain state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not require it.
Every three years, refresher training is required. It can also become mandatory to those operators who have shown some type of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For instance, refresher training will be triggered by some occurrences like: if there is a near miss or an accident, if a different type of forklift is introduced to the workplace, if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation and if a supervisor observes operating unsafely.
When unsafe operation 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 rules deliberately, it can be necessary to implement disciplinary action. And last but not least, even though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice forklift awareness training for pedestrians and other employees working near forklifts in order to ensure everybody stays safe.