Employers are not required to replicate previous training of a new operator according to lift truck regulations. Training however has to be supplemented in order to address particular workplace hazards and specific workplace equipment. For instance, an operator doesn't have to be trained to steer a lift truck on a ramp if that place of work does not have a ramp; however, if the operator is actually assigned to work somewhere which has a ramp, it is vital that extra training should be offered.
Trainees may operate a motorized industrial truck only when they are under the direct supervision of people who have the experience, training and knowledge to train operators and assess their skill operating the machinery. The trainees could just learn in a setting where such operation does not put in danger other workers or the trainee themselves.
It is vital to make a practical evaluation in the workplace. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training occur at the jobsite, utilizing lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
When an operator has successfully passed training with records maintained by the employer, they are said to be certified. The certification needs to contain the training date, the operator name, and the name of the person performing the training and assessment and finally the date of evaluation. Even if some state OSHA bodies require the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not need it.
Every three years, refresher training is required. It can also become mandatory to those operators who have shown some type of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For example, refresher training would be triggered by certain occurrences like: if there is a near miss or an accident, if a different kind of lift truck is introduced to the workplace, if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation and if a supervisor observes operating unsafely.
It needs to be noted that refresher training is not always the solution when unsafe use is noticed. For example, if an operator is intentionally disobeying workplace safety rules, it may be essential to implement disciplinary action. And last but not least, even though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice forklift awareness training for other staff working in the vicinity of forklifts and pedestrians in order to make sure that everyone stays safe.