Heavy Equipment Operator & Forklift Training

Although most jobs have their own associated hazards, if you operate heavy equipment such as a forklift, you have more than your fair share of dangers to contend with. For that reason, the federal government and many employers require heavy equipment operators and those who work near heavy equipment, complete safety training courses.

Why Is Heavy Equipment & Forklift Safety Training Important?  

Construction sites, warehouses, and shipment facilities are already hazardous, but when you add heavy equipment to the equation, those workplace dangers double or even triple. One of the best ways to prevent injuries, fatalities, and accidents caused by heavy equipment is through safety training.

Heavy equipment safety training covers common hazards you’ll find at your job site and how to prevent them, which includes learning about:

• Proper personal protective equipment to use
• Appropriate hand signaling and rigging
• Operator safety best practices
• Lockout/Tagout procedures

Of course, if you’re a heavy equipment operator, the majority of your training will surround safe operations of the heavy equipment and how to safely work in the vicinity of other people and machinery.  

On the other hand, if you simply work near heavy equipment, your training will be primarily focused on related hazards to look out for and appropriate personal protective equipment to wear around heavy equipment.

How Do You Get Forklift Certified?

To become forklift certified, you have to take a forklift operator certification course. OSHA requires all sit-down forklift operators and stand-up forklift operators to complete approved training to reduce the number of workplace injuries in warehouses. Once you pass the exam by scoring 75% or above, you’ll need to exhibit your forklift skills through hands-on training. An instructor will evaluate your performance. If it’s satisfactory, you can become certified. 

What’s Covered in Online Forklift Training?

Forklift operator certification courses will teach you how to safely operate powered industrial trucks (forklifts) and satisfy compliance regulations. Our training covers forklift operations, mechanics, attachments, and safety hazards. Upon completion of the course, you’ll know how to circumvent common safety risks to keep both yourself and those around you safe while operating a stand-up forklift.

What are the OSHA Regulations for Forklifts?

OSHA outlines its forklift safety guidelines in OSHA Forklift Standards, Part 1910, Subpart N. It refers to forklifts as powered industrial trucks primarily used to move materials. You can read the guidelines on OSHA’s website. 

In general, all new and used forklifts must adhere to required design and construction regulations. You can find these guidelines in the “American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969.”

How Long Does Forklift Certification Last?

You need to show competence in driving a forklift truck by taking refresher training every three years after completing your initial forklift operator certification. OSHA requires this refresher training for all forklift license renewals. You also will have to be re-evaluated if you are:

• Linked to an accident or near-miss incident
• Seen operating the equipment unsafely
• Assigned to another type of forklift

Why Choose OSHAcampus® for Forklift & Heavy Equipment Training Online?

Your life is busy enough without having to worry about completing the safety training required by the federal government or your employer. Lucky for you, our training programs are 100% online and self-paced so you can fit in your training as it fits your schedule, not the other way around.

Plus, we have a variety of courses that address all types of heavy equipment, such as aerial lifts, boom trucks, dump trucks, forklifts, cranes, chainsaws, and much more.

With over 20 years of experience in forklift training, you can rest assured that our training programs are OSHA-compliant and will fulfill your federal training requirements. Sign up for your training today!