According to the forklift rules, an employer is not required to repeat past training of a new operator. To be able to deal with particular workplace risks and particular workplace equipment, training has to be supplemented. Like for example, an operator doesn't need to be trained to steer a forklift on a ramp if that place of work does not contain a ramp; nevertheless, if the operator is actually assigned to work somewhere which has a ramp, it is necessary that additional training needs to be offered.
Trainees are just allowed to operate forklifts under direct supervision of just people who have the necessary training and knowledge to train and evaluate the trainees skill on the forklift. The trainees can only learn in a setting where such operation does not endanger the trainee themselves or other employees.
Making a practical assessment in the workplace is also essential. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is wise to have the training occur at the jobsite, using lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
An operator is said to be qualified when they have successfully passed the training with records maintained by the employer. The certification needs to include the date of training, the name of the operator, and the name of the person performing the evaluation and training and lastly the evaluation date. Even if some state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not require it.
Refresher training is required to be completed every 3 years. It is also needed any time an operator demonstrates some kind of inadequacy in safe lift truck operation. Like for instance, refresher training would be triggered by certain occurrences like for instance: if a different kind of lift truck is introduced to the workplace, if there is an accident or a near miss, if a supervisor observes operating unsafely and if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation.
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 regulations, it could be required to implement disciplinary action. And lastly, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice lift truck awareness training for pedestrians and other staff working in the vicinity of forklifts so as to make sure that everyone stays safe.