Forklift operations play a big role in industries like construction, warehousing, and logistics. But did you know that Forklift certification are involved in about 25% of workplace accidents in these fields? That’s why proper certification is important to keeping everyone safe and getting the job done right.
If you’re an employer, making sure your forklift operators are certified can lower risks, boost productivity, and keep you compliant with OSHA standards. It’s a simple step that can save you from bigger problems down the line.
If you’re an operator, getting certified is more than just a legal box to check. It’s a chance to improve your skills, earn more money, and stay safe while working. Forklift certification teaches you how to handle forklifts safely, spot potential hazards, and follow the right procedures. This helps create a safer workplace for everyone around you.
Guidelines for Employers
As an employer, you have a major role to play in ensuring that employees have the current forklift certification. You are responsible for providing the necessary training, ensuring that your workplace is conducive to safe operations, and maintaining a culture of safety. Here are the guidelines for employers in the requirements for certification.
Maintain Proper Documentation
As an employer, you must keep records of each operator’s training, including training dates, contents covered, and the name of the trainer. Documentation for the forklift certification will be your proof that operators have received proper training in case of an incident or when OSHA inspectors conduct an inspection.
Periodic Performance Evaluation
According to OSHA, employers should assess the performance of the forklift operator at least once every three years. As a result, they must train and evaluate the operators on equipment and procedures specific to the company’s operations and ensure compliance. The evaluation should involve checking a few things. These include operators performing inspection, load picking, unloading, packing, fueling or battery recharging, and more.
Incorporate Regular Refresher Courses
Forklift certification is not just a one-time regulatory requirement. It is an ongoing process to reduce the risk of serious injury or fatality when operating forklifts. When you invest in a regular refresher course, you will be able to update your operators on the latest safety standards. In this way, you can protect the well-being of your employees. This will contribute to a safer and more productive work environment. The refresher training is necessary when:
- The forklift operator is assigned to drive a different type of forklift
- The operator has been observed to operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner
- The operator has been involved in an accident or near-miss incident
- New workplace conditions which could affect the safe operation of the forklift.
Guidelines for Operators
Forklift certification is a formal training program mandated under the OSHA-powered industrial truck standard. The program is for employers with employees who operate forklifts in the workplace. Before you begin to operate the equipment, you need to be certified to show that you possess the skills and competency to operate the powerful machine safely. Here’s the guidelines checklist for operators.
Safe Handling of Forklifts
As a forklift operator, you cannot use the equipment unless you demonstrate your ability to do the job safely. Failure to operate the forklift will lead to equipment-related injury and fatality. Therefore you need to comply with the OSHA regulations to recognize the significant hazards and keep your work area safe.
Choose Comprehensive Training
Forklift safety training should consist of formal institutions, including lectures, discussions, interactive computer learning, written material, and videos. It should also involve a practical learning approach demonstrated and led by a skilled instructor. It will help you get familiar with the surface conditions where a forklift will be used, like in narrow spaces.
Operate Under the Supervision of Trained Individual
A direct supervisor or coworker who is forklift certified must watch you when you are using a forklift. It will make sure that you have successfully trained and know the requirements needed to operate the forklift safely. Moreover, direct supervision will ensure that you are operating the forklift in a way and at a place that does not put other employees at risk.
Who Needs Forklift Certification?
Any individual who operates a forklift, full-time or part-time, must obtain the forklift certification. This includes all the workers involved in operating forklifts at the worksite: operators, supervisors, contractors, vendors, and anyone else responsible for their operation.
Forklift certification is considered very important in certain industries, ranging from warehouses, wholesaling, and transportation to retail trade, mining, manufacturing plants, and building sites. When you undergo this training, you receive practical insight into the safe operation of different types of forklifts. This helps you maintain a safe work environment that is also productive.
However, to acquire the certification, you should meet the following requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- New operators must complete forklift training and become officially certified
- Must have career proof of their certification
- Must be certified to operate the specific class vehicle
- Trainees can only operate forklifts under the direct supervision of certified employees
Promote Safety in Your Workplace!
If you are in the industrial workplace, operating a forklift is an inevitable skill, but it has its own risks. OSHA estimates that 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries involving forklifts occur annually. Therefore only trained and competent operators shall be permitted to operate a powered industrial truck. Forklift certification helps you minimize workplace accidents and ensure compliance with legal requirements. The training will solidify proper safety practices in your workforce, ensuring that your workers get home safely every day.
