OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Training

More than 17,000 powered industrial truck (forklift) injuries occurred in 1996, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA updated federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.178 to include stricter requirements for training and certification. The new rule should prevent more than 9,000 accidents per year, according to OSHA.

General Concepts

• OSHA requires training be conducted by a qualified instructor. Training is conducted in three parts; lecture, hands-on practice and evaluation.

Training Topics

• Truck-related training topics include vehicle operation, controls and instrumentation and maintenance. Other subjects include refueling, vehicle capacity and operational attachments.

  Workplace-related training topics include maneuvering in restricted areas and around pedestrians. Workers are trained to recognize areas with poor ventilation.

Evaluation

• OSHA requires evaluation of training be performed after initial training, after refresher training and every three years.

Certification

• Certification of must reflect the following information: name of the trainee, date of training and evaluation and the name of the trainer.

Refresher Training

• Refresher training is required when an accident occurs, when there is a change in equipment, when an unsafe act is witnessed or every three years.