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Federal OSHA has no requirement that a forklift operator have a valid motor vehicle driver's license. HOWEVER: OSHA does require that every forklift operator be trained on the truck- and workplace topics and evaluated by a qualified trainer,

In order to start the process of getting your forklift certification, you must first verify that you meet all of the following requirements:

  • U.S. Citizenship or, if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence
  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older
  • You must have limited or no visual impairments, or any physical disabilities that would prevent safe operation of the vehicle.

It is not required to have previous forklift experience to apply for most forklift operator positions. Once you are hired, your employer is required to train you on the equipment located in their facility.
 
GET YOUR CERTIFIED OSHA FORKLIFT DRIVER LICENSE
Employers are required by law to ensure that their
industrial truck operators receive both hands-on and
formal (classroom) training by a qualified instructor.
 
All operators of lift trucks must be trained in order to be compliant.
Compliance with these regulations is the employer's responsibility.
All operators of lift trucks must be re-trained EVERY 3 YEARS.
Requirements include:
Classroom training with specific requirements;
Work site hazard training;
Orientation to specific lift truck models being used;
Skill assessment of individual operators
 
Refresher Training Requirement
OSHA 29 cfr 1910.178 regulations for Forklift Operator Training,
includes a requirement for Refresher Training when:
Operators have been observed to operate in an unsafe manner.
There has been an accident or a near miss.
Operators are reassigned to a new type of truck of a different work environment.

Forklifts are an essential part of many industrial operations, but they are also involved in 10 percent of all serious industrial accidents every year.

Forklift-related accidents result in nearly 100 deaths and 20,000 serious injuries each year.

One percent of factory accidents involve forklift trucks, but the forklift accidents produce ten percent of the physical injuries.
What are the causes of forklift accidents?
. 26 percent of forklift accidents are caused by the forklift tipping over from overloading weight.
18 percent of forklift accidents involve employees or pedestrians being hit by forklifts.
14 percent of forklift accidents occur by the load falling off of the forklift.
14 percent of forklift accidents occur when forklifts are used to elevate people.
7 percent of forklift accidents occur due to forklifts accidentally being driven off loading docks
7 percent of forklift accidents occur due of improper or no forklift maintenance such as malfunctioning of the brakes, steering, transmission, or hydraulic system. Missing or malfunctioning safety devices can contribute to a forklift accident. Forklifts should be equipped with a roll over protection system which will prevent the forklift operator from being thrown or crushed in the event the forklift tips over.
7 percent is caused by improper workplace design for forklift operation such as narrow or crowded aisles, a high level of foot traffic where the forklift is operated, vision obstructions, and other workplace conditions such as light and noise are all hazards that might contribute to a forklift accident.
3 percent of forklift accidents occur because of loss of forklift control by the operator.
3 percent of forklift accidents occur because of improper use of fork lift
Are Your forklift operators trained?
Is your training OSHA compliant?		 In addition to OSHA compliance,
BENEFITS of refresher training can include:
Why is it important to comply? Safer work environment
It is the law! Less forklift accidents
It's the right thing to do. Reduced insurance costs
It will save you money! Reduced product damage
No one likes accident investigations Improvement in picking orders
No one likes Prohibition notices Production improvement
No one likes Damaged machinery Lower liability insurance
No one likes Prosecution costs Less damage to plant
Prevent fines Turns liabilities into assets
Avoid imprisonment Increased profits
Prevent a bad reputation Good morale
Control compensation claims Less truck maintenance
Your firm risks OSHA's continued scrutiny. More competent and safer workforce
Under the new regulations, all industrial truck operators in all industries are included in OSHA Standard 29CFR1910.178. That includes but is not limited to Construction (1926), General Industry, Shipyards (1915), Marine Terminals (1917) and Longshoring operations (1918), with the exception of Agricultural Operations.

All industrial Truck operators hired BEFORE December 1st. 1999, must receive the required training and written evaluation BEFORE December 1st. 1999, and the company must maintain an operator file with proof of adequate training.

All industrial Truck operators hired AFTER December 1st. 1999, must receive the required training and written evaluation BEFORE they are allowed to operate the equipment, and the company must maintain an operator file with proof of adequate training.

Forklift trucks are so dangerous that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits any workers under age 18 from operating forklifts or similar equipment in nonagricultural industries. And no one over 18 can operate them unless they have been properly trained and authorized.

OSHA can impose a $7,000 fine for each untrained operator (up to $70,000 fine for willful violations)

During the next year, 100,000 injuries involving forklifts will be reported.
100 workers will lose their lives. Don't let one of your employees be one of them.

 
 
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