OSHA Training Guidelines

OSHA Safety Requirements: Training in the Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency that is required to ensure that both business and employees know the importance of training for safety reasons. According to OSHA, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that any individual, who operates a forklift as a part of his or her job, must receive OSHA forklift training.

When conducting forklift training, OSHA requirements must include the following:

  • Formal training including all of the OSHA requirements
  • Practical training in the workplace
  • Evaluation of the employee’s performance in the workplace

Formal training can be completed any way in which the employer wishes, and they will use their own resources. Some examples of formal training include either one or a combination of the following:

  • Diagrams
  • Charts
  • Handbooks
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Video tapes
  • Lecture

Practical training is completed in the workplace through demos. The forklift training instructor will actually demonstrate the correct way to operate a forklift, and then the student will practice the exercises while the instructor watches.

When an employer gives training to their employees, they must tailor it to include the type of work they do, as well as the type of equipment that will be used. In addition, there are certain OSHA requirements that must be included in training. This includes explaining the following:

  • The difference between forklift and an automobile
  • The capacity and stability of the forklift
  • The process of refueling the forklift
  • The process of charging and recharging the batteries
  • How the forklift is powered
  • How to operate the forklift
  • Maintenance of the forklift
  • Forklift inspections
  • Location of all controls and what they do
  • Any limitations of using the forklift
  • The type of floor or ground the forklift will be used on
  • The amount of materials the forklift can hold
  • Stability of the forklift
  • Types of loads which will be transported with the forklift
  • Any possible hazards and safety protocols

It’s important to remember that all of the above information will be included in training at the worksite, as well as on the forklift certification exam. An exam is not required; however, some type of evaluation is.

Remember: Forklift safety reduces accidents and saves lives!