Based on the forklift regulations, an employer is not required to repeat past training of a new operator. In order to deal with certain workplace risks and specific workplace equipment, training needs to be supplemented. Like for instance, an operator doesn't have to be trained to be able to maneuver a forklift on a ramp if that place of work does not contain a ramp; then again, if the operator is really assigned to work somewhere that has a ramp, it is necessary that extra training needs to be provided.
Trainees are just allowed to use forklifts 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 just learn in an environment where such operation does not put in danger other employees or the trainee themselves.
Making a practical assessment in the workplace is also essential. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is better to have the training happen at the workplace, utilizing lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
An operator is said to be certified once they have successfully passed the training with records maintained by the employer. The certification must contain the operator name, the training date, and the name of the individual performing the assessment and training and lastly the assessment date. Even though some state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not need it.
Every three years, refresher training is required. It can also become mandatory to those operators who have shown some type of deficiency in safe lift truck operation. Like for instance, refresher training will be triggered by certain instances including: if a different kind of forklift is introduced to the workplace, if there is a near miss or an accident, if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation and if a supervisor observes operating unsafely.
It needs to be noted that refresher training is not always the solution when unsafe use is noticed. Like for instance, if an operator is disobeying workplace safety regulations deliberately, it might be required to implement disciplinary action. And lastly, though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is necessary to practice lift truck awareness training for pedestrians and other staff working in the vicinity of forklifts in order to ensure everyone will be safe.