In the United States, obtaining a forklift license or certification entails classroom and practical training, as well as three-year recertification requirements. industrial truck operator training, also known as forklift licensing and certification, is overseen and regulated the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. Operators can obtain a license through either employer-provided training or third-party certification, according to OSHA. In terms of training, testing, and recertifying, both options must meet OSHA requirements.
industrial trucks, or forklifts and similar equipment, come in a variety of sit-down and stand-up configurations, fuel types, sizes, and industrial applications. As a result, a forklift operator who is certified to operate a sit-down, gas-powered forklift in a warehouse is unlikely to be qualified to operate a stand-up, heavy-duty, propane-powered lift in a shipyard. Because different types of forklifts are used in different types of industrial settings, it’s difficult for OSHA to establish uniform licensing requirements that apply to all equipment and industries. As a result, it’s understandable that most OSHA regulations concentrate on the outcomes of individual training programs rather than the specific program requirements.
Employer-provided training is the most common way for industrial truck operators to obtain their forklift license or certification. The employer provides classroom learning opportunities as well as practical training on specific equipment within the facility with this method of certification. Safety procedures, forklift operation principles based on the equipment each company uses, company policies, vehicle maintenance schedules, and training for site-specific topics like hazardous conditions or materials within the facility are all covered in the classroom. Each operator will be taught how to safely use and operate each type of forklift on the job site through practical training.
Employers have the option of training operators on each type of vehicle separately or opting for a comprehensive training program that covers all equipment. Because OSHA requires that each employer provide site-specific training, obtaining a forklift license through employer-provided training allows the operator to operate a forklift exclusively for that employer. Certifications of this nature do not transfer from one employer to the next. A new employer may credit previous experience and certifications toward the completion of a new certification for an experienced operator, but only after ensuring the operator meets OSHA compliance criteria.
According to OSHA standards, third-party training must meet the same requirements as employer-provided training. Under OSHA guidelines, if an employer accepts an operator with third-party training or enlists the help of a third-party training provider for on-staff forklift operators, the employer is still responsible for the quality of the training. Every forklift operator must have a forklift license or certification based on OSHA-approved training. It is the employer’s responsibility to close any gaps between third-party training and job-site knowledge.
One of the primary criteria of OSHA’s forklift license training requirements is forklift safety, which varies from machine to machine, employer to employer, and industry to industry. OSHA regulations address additional requirements for both employer-provided training and third-party providers where appropriate, such as in the marine industry and offshore industrial operations. Even with these additional requirements, obtaining a forklift license for an operator involves the same two options: on-the-job training or certification through a third-party vendor with additional employer training on site specifics.