Forklift training FAQ What are OSHA’s forklift training requirements? This blended approach provides the most complete training in the least amount of time and at the lowest cost. Operators can learn the basics at their own pace, and employers only need to worry about teaching what they know best. So get online today and check out the SafetySkills forklift courses for yourself or your employees. This means there is no good reason for any employee to be untrained! All it takes is solid formal training from a qualified source and an experienced employee to fill in the gaps and do on-site evaluation. Any person in the workplace who has knowledge, training and experience can provide hands-on instruction and evaluation. A live evaluator must provide in-person training and must observe the employee operating a forklift before the training requirements have been completed.įortunately, OSHA has a very broad definition of who qualifies as an evaluator. Obviously this cannot be performed online. However, OSHA also requires hands-on instruction and in-person evaluation of operator performance in the workplace. SafetySkills online courses are a fast and cost-effective way to complete the bulk of your training program. The formal instruction or “classroom” portion CAN be delivered online. If you are interested in being a “certified” forklift operator, you should know that you cannot be fully certified to drive a forklift by ANY online vendor.

Evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace – This cannot be done online.

Practical training (hands-on instruction, live demonstrations, and practice exercises on the forklift while under direct supervision of the trainer) – This cannot be done online.

Formal instruction (necessary background information delivered by book, lecture, video, software, or similar training materials) – This can be done online.

OSHA requires forklift operator training to include 3 sections: To put it plainly and in OSHA terms, when it comes to employee training, “the employer shall so certify.” OSHA forklift training requirements They can guarantee that their training meets OSHA standards, and can verify that an employee completed the training, but only the employer can certify that the employee has received all necessary training for their particular job duties and is competent to perform them safely. No outside training content provider can certify forklift operators. Employers are completely responsible for the training, evaluation, and yes “certification” of their employees. In taking this stance, OSHA moves the burden of “certification” to the employer. On the other hand, OSHA is in the business of compliance. The lone exception to this rule is OSHA’s 10- and 30-hour outreach programs. As a rule, OSHA is not in the business of certifying, accrediting or even approving trainers or training programs, whether they’re delivered in a classroom or online. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires forklift operators to be trained, and requires employers to “certify” that an operator has been properly trained and evaluated.

You cannot be certified to drive a forklift by ANY online vendor. If you are interested in being a “certified” forklift operator, read the next sentence VERY carefully.

The truth is: don’t believe the “certification” hype!

We want to help our customers get the answers they need – but we believe in being upfront and honest because we don’t want to mislead anyone! We get questions like these at SafetySkills all the time. Will online forklift training help me get a job as a forklift driver?Ĭan I certify my employees to drive forklifts using SafetySkills online forklift safety courses? Here’s the deal Will online forklift training certify me to drive a forklift?

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