{"id":8925,"date":"2016-07-27T07:11:26","date_gmt":"2016-07-27T12:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/?p=8925"},"modified":"2023-11-14T21:16:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T03:16:08","slug":"osha-regulations-pertaining-powered-industrial-trucks-part-ii-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/forklifts\/osha-regulations-pertaining-powered-industrial-trucks-part-ii-training\/","title":{"rendered":"OSHA Regulations Pertaining to Powered Industrial Trucks \u2013 Part II \u2013 Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Part I<\/a> of my series describing OSHA\u2019s regulation 1910.178 on Powered Industrial Trucks, I covered the responsibilities of the warehouse manager, program administrator, supervisors, and employees pertaining to the safe use of powered industrial trucks.<\/p>\n

In this article, Part II of the series, I will discuss what OSHA expects warehouses to do concerning training a forklift operator.<\/p>\n

Training a forklift operator is one of the most essential responsibilities of a warehouse. Proper training assures better productivity and a more efficient and safe operation.<\/p>\n

OSHA requires that a warehouse offer a training program for new or potential forklift operators. It also requires that the training include formal instruction and hands-on activity as well as a demonstration by the trainee that he has learned the skills necessary for operating a powered industrial truck safely. The trainee is not permitted to operate a forklift without continual supervision until he has been certified. Certification serves as proof that he has been trained and evaluated. Certification must include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the name of the individual who did the training and evaluation.<\/p>\n

OSHA requires that during the training process, the forklift operator trainee operate a vehicle only under the direct supervision of a person who has the knowledge, training and experience to evaluate competence and when such operation does not endanger the trainee or other warehouse employees.<\/p>\n

Annual retraining is not required. However, a warehouse must evaluate a driver\u2019s performance at least every three years and provide refresher training if appropriate.<\/p>\n

Refresher training must be performed when:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The operator was seen operating a forklift in an unsafe manner.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The operator was involved in an accident or near miss.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The operator receives an evaluation that he has not been operating the vehicle safely.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The operator is assigned to drive a different type of vehicle.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A condition in the workplace changes that could affect the safe operation of a vehicle.<\/p>\n

Training Program Content<\/strong><\/p>\n

OSHA requires that the training include information on the characteristics of the forklift the employee will be operating as well as the condition of the environment in which the vehicle is operated.<\/p>\n

The training session should cover characteristics of the vehicle the employee will be operating including:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Differences between an automobile and the powered industrial vehicle
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Location and function of the controls and instrumentation
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Engine or motor operation
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Steering and maneuvering
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visibility
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operation and limitation of the forks and other attachments
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vehicle capacity and stability.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vehicle inspection and maintenance procedures
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Refueling or charging\/recharging batteries
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating limitations
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Safety equipment
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Any other operating instructions, warning, or precautions described in the operator\u2019s manual.<\/p>\n

The operating environment covered should include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Floor surfaces and ground conditions on which the vehicle is operated
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Composition of probable loads and load stability
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Load lifting, stacking, and unstacking
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Traveling with a load
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pedestrian traffic
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Narrow aisle and restricted space operation
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating in hazardous locations
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating the vehicles on ramps or other sloped surfaces that would affect stability
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating the vehicle when driving into a trailer including the proper use of dock plates and ramps, trailer safety and choking\/blocking the trailer wheels
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Other unique or potentially hazardous environmental conditions that exist or may exist in the workplace
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operating the vehicle in closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation and\/or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust<\/p>\n

(Next time: Pre-use inspections and operating procedures)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Part I of my series describing OSHA\u2019s regulation 1910.178 on Powered Industrial Trucks, I covered the responsibilities of the warehouse manager, program administrator, supervisors, and employees pertaining to the safe use of powered industrial trucks. In this article, Part II of the series, I will discuss what OSHA expects warehouses to do concerning training … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,13],"tags":[976,6,1080],"class_list":["post-8925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forklifts","category-safety","tag-featured","tag-forklift","tag-safety"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8925"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12045,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925\/revisions\/12045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}