Beware of These Forklift Laws

The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) establishes safety guidelines for all industrial, construction, warehousing and distribution activity, which includes all forklifts. Keeping on top of the latest OSHA forklift laws and safety standards can be a tough chore for job site supervisors and forklift fleet managers. Pending legislation, regional safety considerations, climate-specific challenges – the world of forklift laws are always changing, and OSHA’s standards require constant monitoring to ensure you and your employees are always up-to-date with the latest training. Finding the time and money to handle your forklift registration and training is tough enough; throw in frequent updates to OSHA forklift laws, and some safety managers find the task nearly impossible! But fortunately, there’s help right around the corner – or wherever you have an internet connection! That’s just one reason why Forklift Certification (FLC) is a trusted provider of OSHA compliant training. We know the ins and outs of OSHA legislation and OSHA forklift laws; some of our training course authors and content creators are considered some of the most knowledgeable OSHA experts in the forklift training industry. If you’re not 100% sure about OSHA forklift laws, forklift registration or anything else related to your safety program, sign up with ForkliftCertification.com today.

Which OSHA forklift laws should you and your organization be concerned about?

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OPERATOR TRAINING AND FORKLIFT REGISTRATION – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The key guideline that sets the standards for forklift operator training is included with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178(l). In this guideline, operator training standards are spelled out. This standard has gone through many changes since its inception, and all forklift fleet managers should be aware of this forklift law. Another forklift law to keep in mind is OSHA standard 1910.178(l) (3) (ii). In a highly publicized interpretation of this guideline, a 2000 ruling stated, “There is no requirement that the trainer attend a train-the-trainer course. However, you may find it useful to have trainers attend such a course.” This forklift law essentially states that courses like FLC’s Train a Trainer program are highly beneficial for keeping your organization OSHA compliant. While it doesn’t explicitly require a “train a trainer” certification, but OSHA administrators say it with a wink; while it’s not an etched-in-stone law, OSHA would still prefer you had this training in place. And if your organization is ever audited or inspected by OSHA, having a “train a trainer” certification decreases the chance of fines, penalties, and costly legal action. One forklift law that generates confusion is operator training requirements. Regarding forklift driver training, the employer is responsible for all coursework and safety training – not OSHA. Many employers fail to realize this when hiring forklift drivers – and ultimately pay the price (literally) with expensive fines and penalties due to accidents, injuries, or worse! Don’t take chances with your forklift registration; get certified today with ForkliftCertification.com! Looking at the big picture, all OSHA forklift regulations are designed with three goals in mind. While individual regulations, guidelines, and forklift laws can deal with detailed operational aspects, OSHA forklift laws and regulations are in place to ensure:

Workplace-specific training for all forklift activities.
Formal, supervised instruction for forklift driving, which can be provided by the employer or an outside training resource that is familiar with forklift laws.
Detailed evaluation of a forklift operator’s skill and knowledge. This is the final step for the forklift registration process; without a proper evaluation of a forklift driver’s skill and knowledge, there’s no way to tell they’re aware of safety guidelines, OSHA forklift laws, and other critical information.

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FORKLIFT LAWS CHANGE? HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR FORKLIFT REGISTRATION?

To keep up with ever-changing OSHA forklift laws, you have essentially two options:

Hire a full-time, in-house safety resource to keep track of OSHA development. This option is expensive, timely – and ultimately self-defeating. It doesn’t cost a fortune to learn about forklift registration and OSHA forklift laws!
Sign up with FLC to ensure your forklift operators have the OSHA compliant training they need. Our modules are super-efficient and very affordable. Plus, your operators can complete their training sessions whenever it’s convenient – for employees and employers!

As you can see, it’s a no-brainer. ForkliftCertification.com will get your workers OSHA compliant without all of the hassle and extra expense associated with traditional on-site forklift training. Plus, our knowledgeable staff is always up to speed on the latest OSHA forklift laws, which takes the guesswork and confusion out of your safety training program! We have a general forklift Training Kit, our popular Train a Trainer program, and also a Bundle Package, each designed to help you leverage the best training possible in the least amount of time! Thanks for visiting the FLC blog. For more information, please visit our contact page or call our OSHA forklift law experts at (888) 278-8896. We’re here to assist with your knowledge of OSHA forklift laws, safety training, forklift registration, and much more!