According to the forklift regulations, an employer is not required to repeat previous training of a new operator. To be able to deal with particular workplace risks and particular workplace machines, training has to be supplemented. For instance, an operator doesn't have to be trained in order to navigate a lift truck on a ramp if that work place does not contain a ramp; nonetheless, if the operator is really assigned to work someplace which has a ramp, it is necessary that extra training should be provided.
Trainees are only allowed to operate lift trucks under direct supervision of only individuals who have the necessary training and knowledge to train and assess the trainees skill on the forklift. The trainees can only learn in an environment where such operation does not put in danger the trainee themselves or other workers.
Making a practical assessment in the workplace is also necessary. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is wise to have the training occur at the workplace, utilizing 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 contain the date of training, the name of the operator, and the name of the person performing the training and evaluation and lastly the assessment date. Though some state OSHA bodies require the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not require it.
Refresher training is necessary to be completed every 3 years. It is also needed any time an operator demonstrates some type of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. Like for example, refresher training will be triggered by certain instances including: if there is an accident or a near miss, if a different kind of lift truck is introduced to the workplace, if a supervisor observes operating unsafely and if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation.
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 regulations willfully, it could be necessary to implement disciplinary action. And lastly, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is necessary to practice lift truck awareness training for other employees working in the vicinity of forklifts and pedestrians in order to make sure that everyone stays safe.