What you need to know about Forklift Training

what is the osha policy on in house training for forklifts, and has it been updated since 2005?


Forklift training is an OSHA performance standard. It essentially has four elements.

1. Classroom training session dealing with forklift safety, center fo ballance, pre-use inspections, and other essential info such as "rules of the road".

2. A practical skills based section where trainees are observed operating the lift. Often set up as an mini-obstacle course and operating skills demonstartion.

3. Annual on-the-job observation of the operator. The minimum is one year, some places do the evalutation more frequently.

4. Retraining every three years unless the employee is observed operating in an unsatisfactory manner or has an accident or near miss incident. in those saces retraining is necessary. Many establishments conduct a mini refresher class annually to remind employees of the importance of safety around powered industrial trucks.

I have incuded the link to the standard on osha.gov. It has not been updated recently.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9828

4 Responses to “what is the osha policy on in house training for forklifts, and has it been updated since 2005?”

  1. That policy hasn't been updated since 1995.
    References :

  2. I believe this policy has to do with the person doing the training has to be certified to do the training ( a sort of train the trainer class). Our company has this program for our inhouse forklift training. Your local/state safety council should be able to answer this question. As far as being updated, I do not have an answer to that
    References :

  3. Here is the OSHA link

    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/poweredindustrialtrucks/standards.html

    The last date of a change was Sept 2005.
    References :

  4. Forklift training is an OSHA performance standard. It essentially has four elements.

    1. Classroom training session dealing with forklift safety, center fo ballance, pre-use inspections, and other essential info such as "rules of the road".

    2. A practical skills based section where trainees are observed operating the lift. Often set up as an mini-obstacle course and operating skills demonstartion.

    3. Annual on-the-job observation of the operator. The minimum is one year, some places do the evalutation more frequently.

    4. Retraining every three years unless the employee is observed operating in an unsatisfactory manner or has an accident or near miss incident. in those saces retraining is necessary. Many establishments conduct a mini refresher class annually to remind employees of the importance of safety around powered industrial trucks.

    I have incuded the link to the standard on osha.gov. It has not been updated recently.

    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9828
    References :

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