There are two ways to become a certified forklift operator: online certification and employer-provided training. Here’s an example of a certification that may be used by an employer to document that you have been trained, evaluated, and authorized to operate a forklift. Equipping every new employee with the right knowledge to operate forklifts is a win-win for everyone. It also shields your employer from unnecessary expenses, liability, and disruption of business operations.Īccidents are expensive for everyone involved. A forklift license protects both employer and employee.Ī thorough understanding of forklift operation best practices protects you from life-threatening accidents. Those lessons make the whole process safer for everyone. Just as you might want driving lessons before driving a left-hand drive on the opposite side of the road for the first time, you need lessons to drive a different forklift in a new-to-you setting. When you switch employers, the landscape, equipment, and even the signs may change. Think of seeking re-certification as learning to drive in a new country. Each employer also has unique safety standards, which may require the use of different features or maneuvers. Some of these unique workplace factors include the presence of ramps, extreme temperatures, and exposure to debris. You also need to learn to use the forklift in your new working conditions. You need a unique certification for each job because the forklift itself may be very different from the machine you used previously. OSHA puts forklifts into seven classes, and there are many more makes and models. Workers need training for the specific equipment used on the warehouse floor. You might be surprised to find that you can’t use certification from a previous post when you apply for a new role.Įven if you drove forklifts at your last job, your experience does not exempt you from getting re-certified. Forklift training must match your new job duties. Employers keep track of forklift certifications to ensure everyone is up-to-date. Your training ensures both your safety and the safety of the people around you. It is necessary to train you on the ins and outs of operating the equipment. Between 2011 to 2017, workplace forklift injuries resulted in a total of 614 deaths.įorklift certification is not just a formality to qualify for a job. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, forklift accidents are responsible for 7,000 workplace injuries every year. Sure, operating a forklift looks like easy driving, but only trained operators make it seem so simple. Here are just a few reasons why forklift certifications are important: 1. They exist for many reasons, namely to keep you and your co-workers safe. While workers may receive a forklift certification through a third-party trainer, the employer must provide their own evaluation and record up-to-date certifications for all operators.Īfter your initial certification, you’re required to get re-certified every three years or when you must begin operating a different type of PIT.Ĭertifications aren’t just red tape. (We’ll cover exactly what goes into a certification later on in this article.) OSHA requires employers to certify all forklift operators are trained and competent to operate powered industrial trucks (PITs) safely, including all classes of forklifts. Some people refer to this authorization as a forklift license, but there is technically no such thing. Workers must be authorized to operate forklifts on the job.
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