Frequently Asked Questions: 

 

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TRAINING PROGRAM & SERVICE PROVIDER FAQ's

 

What is OSHA forklift training/certification?

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This is a commonly asked question. I am very careful when I answer this question. As a result, I want the caller to be aware that OSHA does not provide a specific training program. As you can imagine, it would be very difficult to provide all training content for all industries. Image the possible differences, all things being equal, in material flow between two companies producing the same product, in the same industry, in different parts of the country. 

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However, they do specify what the training should contain. The following excerpt is taken from OHSA’s website: 

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Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace. [29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii)]

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

 

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Does OSHA provide forklift, powered industrial truck, or aerial lift certifications?

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No.  OSHA does not provide training certifications, nor do they certify training providers.  Any training company stating they provide "OSHA certified" training is misleading you.  Legitimate training providers make it clear that they provide OSHA-COMPLIANT training in line with OSHA's specific training requirements.  OSHA does not certify training providers nor issue training certifications.

 

For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Do you provide OSHA forklift training/certification?

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Yes.  Our best-in-class powered industrial truck training programs follow all required training topics covered in 1910.178(l). In consultation with our clients, we blend in any company-specific rules, policies, or procedures specific to the worksite.  Our training programs can also include an extensive array of more specialized training topics.

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Once the education, or classroom portion, and testing is completed, we move participants out to the truck(s) to begin the introduction to the truck type(s) being trained on, pre and post start-up inspections, practical instruction or skills evaluation, operator skills observations, and final certification assessment.  Operators who fail to meet minimum course competency requirements will not receive certification.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

 

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Are we in compliance with just showing a forklift training video?

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No.  As covered in the previous section, OSHA states that training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction and practical hands-on and behind-the-weel practice, and evaluation. So the short answer to this question would be no. Requirements would be met if your training included the video, along with discussion, testing, practical training, and then hands-on evaluation.  This also applies when a new employee comes to the organization with a certification from another company or training provider.  As the employer, you are required to perform a skills evaluation to verify that the licensed employee indeed has the skills to be a safe and competent operator on each different type of truck they will be expected to operate.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Do we need to provide training for each make & model we have on-site?

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It depends.  While is is not necessary to train on each make and model you would need to train on each class of truck Class I Forklifts (sit down electric), Class II Forklifts (narrow aisle, reach truck or order picker), Class III Forklifts (pallet), Class IV Forklifts (sit down cushion tire), Class V Forklifts (sit down pneumatic tire), Class VI Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors (Solid and Pneumatic Tires), and Class VII Forklifts (rough terrain).

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29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3) requires that operators receive training in the topics which are applicable to the safe operation of the truck in the employer’s workplace. For example, if an employee will be operating 2 different Class I forklifts and 1 has a side shift and the other one does not, then the proper operation of a side shift should be added to their training. Also, if attachments are going to be used, then additional specialized training needs to be added to the training.

 

For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Are operators required to carry an OSHA forklift driver’s license on their person at all times?

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No.  OSHA does not require a forklift “driver’s license” (wallet card) to be carried by each operator. While companies can require that all operators have it on their person at all times, it is not required by OSHA, it is what we consider to be a best practice.  If an OSHA compliance officer visits your site the employee operators would immediately be able to produce training certification.  As you can imagine, it can be extremely useful when companies set restrictions on who can operate which piece/type of equipment. It is very easy to ask an employee for their card and check their forklift credentials.

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In the event that you choose to use a wallet card, the following information should be included:

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• Full name of the operator

• Name of the trainer

• Date of the training

• Name of evaluator

• Date of evaluation

• Class of truck trained/certified to operate

 

Even if you use wallet cards, I recommend keeping a complete record for each operator in a central location. Namely, the information should include much of the same information as the wallet card. In essence, you should have the full name of the operator, name of the trainer, date of the training, name of the evaluator, date of evaluation, and class of truck trained/certified to operate. In addition, you should have a copy of the class attendance sheet, exam, and the evaluation form posted in a conspicuous location for immediate inspection by a member of management or an OSHA compliance officer.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Do I need to send my operators through the complete training when their certifications expire?

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No.  For those operators with expired operator certification, OSHA does not require that they go back through the same forklift training as they did when they were initially certified. They could undergo a "Skills evaluation", much like they received in their initial training. Again, you would want to include an evaluation for each class of truck and/or attachment they use. However, they would need to go through forklift refresher/retraining if any of the following conditions occur:

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• The operator has been observed to operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner [1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(A)]

• The operator has been involved in an accident or near-miss incident [1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(B)]

• The operator has received an evaluation that reveals that the operator is not operating the truck safely [1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(C)]

• The operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck [1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(D)]

• A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the truck [1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(E)]

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

 

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Are operators of class III forklifts (electric pallet) required to follow the same OSHA forklift training as with all other classes of forklifts?

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Yes.  As has been noted, OSHA’s CFR standard 1910.178 applies to all classifications of powered industrial trucks (PIT). This includes: Class I Forklifts (sit down electric), Class II Forklifts (narrow aisle, reach truck or order picker), Class III Forklifts (pallet), Class IV Forklifts (sit down cushion tire), Class V Forklifts (sit down pneumatic tire), Class VI Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors (Solid and Pneumatic Tires), and Class VII Forklifts (rough terrain).

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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What training is required when an operator is to operate different types of powered industrial trucks?

​It depends.  [OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks Standard] 1910.178(l)(i) states that "The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l)." 1910.178(l)(3) requires that operators receive training in the topics which are applicable to the safe operation of the truck in the employer’s workplace.

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Therefore, an operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for the type of truck that the operator will be assigned to operate in the employer’s workplace. For example, if an operator is assigned to operate a sit-down counterbalanced rider truck, then the operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for that type of truck. If an operator is assigned to operate an operator-up counterbalanced front/side loader truck or a rough terrain forklift, then the operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for those types of trucks.

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A sit-down counterbalanced rider truck, an operator-up counterbalanced front/side loader truck, and a rough terrain forklift are different types of trucks. Operators who have successfully completed training and evaluation as specified in 1910.178(l) (in a specific type of truck) would not need additional training when they are assigned to operate the same type of truck made by a different manufacturer. However, operators would need additional training if the applicable truck-related and workplace-related topics listed in 1910.178(l)(3) are different for that truck.

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Reference Interpretation and Compliance Letters:

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• Powered industrial truck training: different types of trucks. [6/15/99]

• Refresher training requirements for operators of different types of trucks. [4/8/99]

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Who must provide powered industrial truck operator training to the truck drivers delivering to my site?

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The driver's employer.  However, you are required to verify training before they operate.  With respect to truck drivers who are not employed by [the employer] and with respect to lumpers who may be retained by those drivers, [the employer] must take steps to assure that these individuals are properly trained before they are permitted to operate powered industrial trucks at [the employer's] facility.

 

At a minimum, an employer is responsible for the safety of its own employees. Thus, if the unsafe operation of powered industrial trucks could endanger [the employer's] employees, [the employer] would be obligated to prevent such danger by satisfying itself that powered industrial truck operators have been properly trained.

 

Moreover, [the employer] also generally would be responsible for the overall safety and health conditions on the work site for the benefit of all employees. Indeed, as [the employer] would likely concede, its warehouse is a safer place for all employees to work if all persons are required to receive appropriate training before they are allowed to operate powered industrial trucks.

 

This does not mean that [the employer] is required to train powered industrial truck drivers who are not its employees. It must, however, ensure that such individuals have been trained in accordance with the provisions of the standard before they are permitted to operate powered industrial trucks at its warehouse.

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Reference Interpretation and Compliance Letters:

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• Host employers must assure forklift operators of visiting employers are trained. [4/6/99]

• Host employers may require site-specific forklift training of visiting workers. [10/28/99]

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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How long does a class typically take?

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It depends.  Total training time will vary depending on the number of participants in the training, the number of questions asked during the class, the number of trucks available to complete the training, and the space available to conduct the hands-on training.  For a normal-sized class, typical training time will range from 3-4+ hours.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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What is the minimum attendance for an onsite class?

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It depends.  Based on the total number of classes scheduled, class sizes can vary.  However, we generally look for a minimum of four (4) participants. 

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Do you provide individual operator training at a training center?

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No.  We provide group training at the employer's site to ensure full OSHA compliance.  We do not provide training for individual students.  Certifications issued at a training center are not considered compliant under current training guidelines which requires a physical, hands-on/practicle set of instruction and observation with the equipment the employee is expected to operate and within the work environment the employee is expected to operate within.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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What if I schedule and guarantee a forklift or powered industrial truck class of a certain number of participants, but fewer employees participate?

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All training classes are subject to a minimum guaranteed attendance number.  Before training classes are scheduled, all clients are required to provide the full number of expected participants for the class.  A training quote will be completed and sent to the client for approval signature, and return.  Once we receive the approved quote, your training will be booked and confirmed.  This is your guaranteed minimum attendance for the class and is what you will be billed for, even if fewer participants complete the training.  You are free to add participants to the training, and your bill will be adjusted to reflect the number of employees who completed the training.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

 

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What if an employee fails to achieve certification?

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If a training participant fails to meet minimum training competency, after additional training time, support, coaching, and observation, they will not receive certification.  There are no refunds for participants who do not receive training certification.  If additional training classes are scheduled, you can opt to recycle the employee through another class, at an additional training cost.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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What training documentation do we receive?

We provide you with a copy of the training roster, handouts, and course content certification that verifies we covered all OSHA-required content in the course.  Employees receive operator licenses and certificates of completion for copying and placing in the employee's employment or training files. 

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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Is Spanish language training available?

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Yes.  We can generally arrange for Spanish language interpreters and, in some cases arrange for Spanish instructors.  If an interpreter is required, there is an additional fee applicable to the training.  If the instructor is Spanish speaking then no translation fees are applicable.  Classes that are translated will add additional training time to the class to account for the translation time.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training

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What do employees do after they complete their hands-on training?

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We release your employees back to work as they complete their training.  This means less non-productive time off the floor.  When very large or multi-class sessions are scheduled, we will also take employees in batches to complete their training, release them back to work as they complete training, and have your managers/supervisors send in the next batch of participants.  This helps minimize non-productive time off the floor.

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For quotes or questions, call 1-800-277-2267 or email us at Sales@Employeeforklifttraining.com or go to Schedule Training