Who can be designated the Qualified Trainer/Evaluator?
- Shop Foreman
- Supervisor
- Warehouse Manager
- Branch Manager
- Safety Officer
- Owner of the Company
OSHA made this part easy... but a little confusing
“All training and evaluation must be conducted by persons with the necessary knowledge, training and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.”
An example of a qualified trainer would be a person who by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or... “who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience has demonstrated the ability to train and evaluate powered industrial truck operators.” - OSHA.gov
Trainer and Operator Training Curriculum Content
Self paced machine type specific training and testing. Covers all of the mandatory topics required under OSHA’s forklift training standard (29 CFR 1910.178)
Operator Training
Safe Operations
The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in the OSHA standard.
Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck (except for training purposes), the employer shall ensure that each operator has successfully completed the required training (or previously received appropriate training).
Performance-Oriented Requirements
The powered industrial truck operator training requirements are performance-oriented to permit employers to tailor a training program to the characteristics of their workplaces and the particular types of powered industrial trucks operated.
Training Program Implementation
Trainees may operate a powered industrial truck only:
- Under direct supervision of a person who has the knowledge, training, and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence; and,
- Where such operation does not endanger the trainee or other employees.
Training shall consist of a combination of:
- Formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, written material),
- Practical training (demonstrations and exercises performed by the trainee), and
- Evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace
“Training and evaluation shall be conducted by a person with the knowledge, training and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.”
Training Program
Operators shall receive initial training in the following topics, except in topics which the employer can demonstrate are not applicable to safe operation in the employer’s workplace.
- Truck-related topics
- Workplace-related topics
- The requirements of the standard
Truck - related topics
- Operating instructions, warnings and precautions
- Differences from automobile
- Controls and instrumentation
- Engine or motor operation
- Steering and maneuvering
- Visibility
- Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, use
- Vehicle capacity and stability
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform
- Refueling/Charging/ Recharging batteries
- Operating limitations
- Other instructions, etc.
Workplace – related topics
- Surface conditions
- Composition and stability of loads
- Load manipulation, stacking, un-stacking
- Pedestrian traffic
- Narrow aisles and restricted areas
- Operating in hazardous (classified) locations
Refresher Training and Evaluation
An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator’s performance must be conducted:- After initial training,
- After refresher training, and
- At least once every three years
Avoidance of Duplicate Training
If an operator has previously received training in a topic specified in this section, and the training is appropriate to the truck and working conditions encountered, additional training in that topic is not required if the operator has been evaluated and found competent to operate the truck safely.Effective Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Program
Four major areas of concern must be addressed:- The general hazards that apply to the operation of all or most powered industrial trucks;
- The hazards associated with the operation of particular types of trucks;
- The hazards of workplaces generally; and,
- The hazards of the particular workplace where the vehicle operates.
Unique Characteristics of Powered Industrial Trucks
- Each type of powered industrial truck has its own unique characteristics and some inherent hazards.
- To be effective, training must address the unique characteristics of the type of vehicle the employee is being trained to operate.
Certification
The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by the standard.Certification shall include:
- Name of operator
- Date of training
- Date of evaluation
- Identity of person(s) performing the training or evaluation