According to the forklift regulations, an employer is not required to replicate previous training of a new operator. To be able to deal with specific workplace risks and particular workplace machines, training needs to be supplemented. For example, an operator doesn't have to be trained to steer a lift truck on a ramp if that work place does not contain a ramp; nevertheless, if the operator is really assigned to work somewhere that has a ramp, it is necessary that additional training must be offered.
Trainees are only allowed to utilize forklifts under direct supervision of only people who have the necessary knowledge and training to train and assess the trainees competence on the forklift. The trainees could just learn in a setting where such operation does not put in danger the trainee themselves or other workers.
It is essential to make a practical evaluation within the workplace. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training occur at the workplace, 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 should contain the training date, the operator name, and the name of the person performing the assessment and training and finally the date of assessment. Even if 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 operation. Like for example, refresher training would be triggered by certain instances 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.
It has to be noted that refresher training is not always the solution when unsafe use is noticed. For example, if an operator is willfully disobeying workplace safety regulations, it can be essential to implement disciplinary action. And lastly, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice lift truck awareness training for other employees working in the vicinity of forklifts and pedestrians in order to ensure everybody stays safe.