Message from our Management Team

MEMO

Northern Training & Equipment Services, Inc.

318 Half Day Rd. Suite #163

Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

August 2017

RE: OSHA Forklift Certification Requirements

Dear Clientele,

Unsafe use of forklifts result in thousands of preventable accidents every year. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide their temporary or permanent employees with OSHA forklift certification. Employees without training are not to be driving forklifts. There are thousands of dollars in fines assessed daily for lack of safety compliance. A professional training will prevent accidents and save lives. Avoiding training will cost a company costly fines and legalities.

Some training programs that offer quick videos and manuals will not eliminate your liability. To be OSHA certified, 5 main sections must be covered, Operator Training, Safe Operation, Training Program Implementation, Training Program Content, and Refresher Training. Doing this training will prevent accidents and save fines. Avoiding training will cost a company costly fines and legalities.

Operator Training

Each forklift operator must go through training to understand how to safely drive a forklift. The trainee must then pass OSHA-approved testing. The trainee is not allowed to drive a forklift unless it is during or after the training.

Safe Operation

Employers may create their own custom OSHA forklift certification program to fit their workplace requirements and types of equipment.

Training Program Implementation

Trainees may only operate a forklift if:

• The training consisted of formal instruction that includes Formal instruction, (lectures, discussions, interactive computer learning and/or written material) Practical training (demonstrations by the trainer and hands-on exercises by the trainee) and an Evaluation of their performance.
• They are driving in an environment that does not put others in danger and are under the supervision of an individual who has been trained and has experience training operators.

Forklift Training Program Content

For forklift certification, operators must complete training on the following topics:

Truck topics, for example: Operated instructions, warnings and precautions, differences from automobile, controls and instrumentation, engine or motor operation, steering and maneuvering, etc.

Workplace topics, for example: surface conditions, composition and stability of loads, load manipulation, stack, unstacking, pedestrian traffic, narrow aisles and restricted areas, operating in hazardous locations, etc.

Refresher Forklift Training and Evaluation

A refresher training is required during unsafe operation, accidents or near miss accidents, an evaluation of the operator’s skills indicates a need, a different type of equipment is introduced, the workplace changes.

An evaluation of the operator’s performance must be conducted after initial training, after refresher training, and at least once every three years.

Regards,

NTE Management Team

Northern Training & Equipment Services, Inc.