Certified Forklift Training

Forklift Academy and distribution operations, where forklifts are commonplace, it is important to have properly trained operators. This is true even for small businesses because the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires companies of any size to document operator training and certification. It is also necessary to ensure that workers receive regular refresher training courses.

Creating an in-house forklift program allows companies to train employees with the help of internal resources, and is typically a more cost-effective option than hiring a third party trainer. However, many managers don’t have the time to create a comprehensive forklift training program from scratch.

Scissor Lift Train the Trainer Kit: All-in-One Training Solution

A good forklift training course will combine formal instruction, practical training and evaluation of the trainee’s workplace performance. This is crucial because an inexperienced or untrained operator can put property, people and themselves in serious danger of being injured or killed by a powered industrial truck.

Formal instruction can be delivered via books, lectures, videos and software but must be followed by practical hands-on training. This is the phase where an experienced trainer leads demonstrations and the trainee completes practice exercises directly on the type of forklift they will operate in the workplace. It is also during this phase that operators are taught how to prepare the vehicle for use, such as performing an engine inspection, refueling and battery charging.

The practical phase also includes demonstrating how to carry a load, and training on the four most common causes of forklift accidents. This is important because a forklift carrying a load puts it at greater risk of causing injury and property damage because it may lose its balance while moving and smash things around it.