Do you know OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration do not certify a training provider, it only certifies an employee? Yes, it is true. OSHA is the highest body in the United States who work to ensure the health and safety of the working population in the country. It has maintained strict guidelines when it comes to the safety of the people working in heavy industries or in hazardous conditions. It makes training mandatory for individuals who operate the forklift as part of their jobs. 

OSHA Put the Responsibility of Educating and Training of an Operator to the Employer

Now the employer is responsible to certify their employees. So in practice, OSHA is not in the process of certifying and training candidates or approving trainers for any program. It is not responsible for whether the training is dispatched online or given practically in an industrial environment. 

OSHA is All About Compliance 

It simply ensures that all business corporations should operate according to standard rules and regulations. The concept of compliance urges businesses to act responsibly towards the management of the business, the staff and an overall behavior towards the customers. This is why ultimately the burden of forklift training falls on the employer. 

Only employers are responsible to conduct a training program for their employees. They should make sure that the training fulfills the OSHA standard and are entitled to certify that a particular employee has completed all the necessary training related to his job and be ready for certification. This gives the right to the employer to identify the employees who are competent to perform their job duties. 

Training Requirements 

The Training is Usually Conducted in 3 Stages 

1. Formal instruction is the first stage when the background of forklift profession is discussed and delivered via live lectures, videos or other training materials
2. The second stage is practical training where candidates are given practical instruction on how to operate forklift under the supervision of a trainer. Live demonstrations often form a part of this training phase.
3. The third stage is the evaluation when an employee’s performance is analyzed. 

Training is Mandatory 

It is required as per the law. Though forklift driving is a small part of the job it requires training and it is intended to work in favor of the employees. According to OSHA statistics, approximately 77 percent of the forklift accidents could have been avoided with forklift training.

 
Training Should be Renewed in Every 3 Years 

Refresher Training Course Might be Needed Under Certain Conditions When 

1. When you will be given to drive a new type of forklift 
2. When you are assigned to work in a different location or any changes in the working condition in your current workplace 
3. If you met with an accident or have a close encounter or have operated the forklift in an unsafe manner
4. If your evaluation says that you could not drive the forklift properly

Final Opinion 

From the above discussion, it becomes clear that if you are willing to join the forklift industry, training is a must. Wherever you live in the United States, you will require adhering to OSHA compliance. If you are looking to conduct OSHA forklift training in Los Angeles for your employees, you must contact a quality and reputed school for this. 

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