According to the lift truck rules, an employer is not required to replicate past training of a new operator. To be able to address specific workplace risks and particular workplace equipment, training needs to be supplemented. For example, an operator doesn't have to be trained to be able to maneuver a forklift on a ramp if that work place does not contain a ramp; however, if the operator is really assigned to work someplace that has a ramp, it is vital that extra training should be offered.
Trainees are just allowed to operate lift trucks under direct supervision of just individuals who have the necessary knowledge and training to train and evaluate the trainees skill on the forklift. The trainees could only learn in an environment where such operation does not endanger other employees or the trainee themselves.
Making a practical evaluation in the workplace is also necessary. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training occur at the jobsite, using lift trucks at the workplace to be as precise as possible.
When an operator has successfully passed training with records maintained by the employer, they are said to be qualified. The certification must contain the training date, the name of the operator, and the name of the individual performing the training and assessment and lastly the date of assessment. Even though certain state OSHA bodies require the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not require it.
Every three years, refresher training is essential. It can also become mandatory to those operators who have demonstrated some type of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For example, refresher training would be triggered by some occurrences including: if a different kind of forklift is introduced to the workplace, if there is a near miss or an accident, 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 instance, if an operator is disobeying workplace safety regulations deliberately, it can be essential to implement disciplinary action. And last but not least, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is vital to practice lift truck awareness training for other employees working near forklifts and pedestrians so as to make sure that everybody stays safe.