OSHAcertify.com

OSHA Regulations OSHA ISSUED NEW REGULATIONS FOR FORKLIFT OPERATORS December 1, 1998 Is your company in compliance? The employer is responsible for OSHA compliance for all its Lift Truck Operators. On December 1, 1998, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a standard that revised the existing requirements of 29 CFR 1910.178 and issued new requirements to improve the training of powered industrial truck operators.

OSHA’S            GENERAL      FORKLIFT      OPERATOR TRAINING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS The    standard    requires    employers    to    develop and    implement    a    training    program    based    on the following general principles Safe     POWERED     INDUSTRIAL     TRUCK     (PIT) operation 1          Types     of     vehicle(s)     being     used     in     the workplace 2            Hazards   of   the   workplace   created   by   the user of the vehicles 3            General   safety   requirements   of   the   OSHA standard 4               The   operator’s   prior   knowledge   and   skill   in operating the vehicle 5          The     operator’s     demonstrated     ability     to operate a vehicle safely General        requirements        for        training        and evaluation 1    Formal (lecture, video) training 2            Practical   training   using   demonstrations   and exercises (on-site) 3         Employers   must   certify   that   each   operator has received the training 4        Employers    must    evaluate    each    operator’s performance at least once every three years Prior   to   operating   a   powered   industrial   truck in   the   workplace,   OSHA   Certify   will   train   the employee     and     evaluate     the     forklift     driver’s performance   and   determine   the   operator   to   be competent to operate a (PIT) safely. Refresher     training     is     needed     whenever     an operator   demonstrates   a   deficiency   in   the   safe operation of the truck 1            The   operator   is   involved   in   an   accident   or near-miss incident 2            The   operator   has   been   observed   using   the vehicle in an unsafe manner 3            An   evaluation   has   determined   the   need   for additional training 4         There   are   workplace   changes   that   can   affect vehicle operation 5         The   operator   is   assigned   to   use   a   different kind of truck DEFINITION     OF     A     POWERED     INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Any     mobile     power-propelled     truck     used     to carry,    push,    pull,    lift,    stack    or    tier    materials. Powered    industrial    trucks    can    be    ridden,    or controlled   by   a   walking   operator.   Earth   moving and     over     the     road     haulage     trucks     are     not included   in   the   definition.   Equipment   that   was designed   to   move   earth   but   has   been   modified to accept forks are also not included. OSHA requirements for forklift operators All     persons     who     will     operate     a     powered industrial    truck    must    be    trained    and    pass    an operator    evaluation    before    being    allowed    to use a vehicle in the workplace. OSHA   states   that   an   employer   does   not   need to    retrain    an    employee    in    the    operation    of    a powered      industrial      truck      if      the      employer certifies   that   the   operator   has   been   evaluated and   has   proven   to   be   competent   to   operate   the truck    safely.    However,    the    employer    is    fully responsible   for   documentation   certifying   that the   required   training   and   evaluation   has   taken place for all truck operators. The   operator   would   need   additional   training   in those   elements   where   his   or   her   performance indicates   the   need   for   further   training   and   for new       types       of       equipment       and       areas       of operation. TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES OSHA         has         issued         several         letters         of interpretations    on    the    subject    of    training    of temporary     employees.     Basically,     there     is     a shared    responsibility    for    assuring    employees are   adequately   trained.   The   responsibility   for providing   training   should   be   spelled   out   in   the contractual      agreement      between      the      two parties.       The       temporary       agency       or       the contracting       employer       may       conduct       the training    and    evaluation    of    operators    from    a temporary   agency   as   required   by   the   standard; however,       the       host       employer       (or       other employer   who   enters   into   a   contract   with   the temporary    agency)    must    provide    site-specific information    and    training    on    the    use    of    the particular     types     of     trucks     and     workplace- related       topics       that       are       present       in       the workplace. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS The       OSHA       standard       requires       that       the employer      certify      that      each      operator      has received   the   training   and   has   been   evaluated. The   written   certification   record   must   include the    name    of    the    operator,    the    date    of    the training,    the    date    of    the    evaluation,    and    the identity      of      the      person(s)      performing      the training or evaluation. Through        Osha        Certify,        employers        who evaluate     the     operator’s     performance     more frequently   than   every   three   years   may   retain the         most         recent         certification         record; otherwise,       certification       records       must       be maintained for three years. FOR MORE OSHA INFORMATION For    more    information,    contact    your    local    or regional OSHA office @ http://www.osha.gov/

The     gap     between     well     trained     forklift operators      and      poorly      trained      forklift drivers    is    becoming    more    severe    as    turn- over   rates   for   these   positions   remain   high. OSHAcertify.com            recognized           severe deficiencies     in     both     on-line     and     on-site training     and     the     need     to     better     train forklift    drivers.    According    to    OSHA    and their   rules   of   compliance,   all   training   and evaluation   must   be   conducted   by   persons with   the   necessary   knowledge,   training   and experience     to     train     powered     industrial truck       operators       and       evaluate       their competence.

Furthermore,    an    example    of    a    qualified trainer      would      be      a      person      who      by possession       of       a       recognized       degree, certificate   or   professional   standing,   or   who by      extensive      knowledge,      training      and experience   has   demonstrated   the   ability   to train   and   evaluate   powered   industrial   truck operators.   It   is   clear   that   forklift   trainers must   be   qualified   for   businesses   to   be   PIT compliant   and   avoid   fines,   higher   insurance rates    and    possible    lawsuits.    This    is    why OSHA   Certify   .com   developed   our   exceeding OSHA        compliance        PIT        training        for employers   who   desire   safer,   better   trained forklift     operators.     We     can     help--call     us today at: 615-961-6037 (12 to 4 P.M.)

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FORKLIFT TRAINING CERTIFICATION