Based on the forklift regulations, an employer is not required to replicate past training of a new operator. In order to deal with certain workplace risks and specific workplace equipment, training has to be supplemented. For example, an operator doesn't need to be trained in order to navigate a lift truck on a ramp if that place of work does not have a ramp; then again, if the operator is actually assigned to work somewhere which has a ramp, it is essential that additional training needs to be provided.
Trainees are just allowed to operate forklifts under direct supervision of only people who have the necessary training and knowledge to train and evaluate the trainees skill on the lift truck. The trainees could just learn in a setting where such operation does not endanger the trainee themselves or other employees.
It is necessary to make a practical evaluation within the workplace. If a third party training provider is chosen, it is wise to have the training occur at the workplace, using lift trucks at the workplace to be as accurate as possible.
Once an operator has successfully passed training with records maintained by the employer, they are said to be qualified. The certification needs to include the training date, the operator name, and the name of the person performing the training and evaluation and finally the evaluation date. Though some state OSHA bodies need the issue of an operator's certificate, the Federal OSHA does not need it.
Refresher training is necessary to be completed every 3 years. It is also required any time an operator demonstrates some kind of inadequacy in safe lift truck use. For example, refresher training would be triggered by some occurrences like for instance: if there is a near miss or an accident, if a different type of forklift is introduced to the workplace, if an operator received a poor 3 year evaluation and if a supervisor observes operating unsafely.
When unsafe operation of a lift truck is noticed, it should be noticed that refresher training is not always the solution. For example, if an operator is disobeying workplace safety rules willfully, it could be required to implement disciplinary action. And finally, even though training lift truck operators is a requirement, it is necessary to practice lift truck awareness training for pedestrians and other staff working near forklifts in order to ensure everyone stays safe.