The coming of theOSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in the year 1970 in theUSA was a revolutionary step taken by the government in the wake of accidentsthat happened in the industries resulting in the loss of life and properties. It is a regulatory body that has prescribed some mandatory guidelines for individuals and companies working in the heavy industries to maintain the safety of the workers. These standards are imparted through proper training, education, and assistance to the employees by the employer. The forklift or industrial truck is a heavy vehicle and you should be familiar with its operation to drive it safely. Even though forklift driving forms only a small part of the job, yet all employees should be trained and certified as according to research conducted in this field, around 77 percent of the accidents happen due to lack of training. So training is made mandatory only to benefit the employers and the employees. There are several things that people do not know about OSHA forklift safety training which we shalldiscuss here.
OSHA does not certify a training provider; it only certifies an employee
Now everyorganization must ensure their workers have undergone safety training if they run the forklift as part of their job. So, the employers are now responsible for conducting training for their employees and to certify them. So, OSHA does not train or certify the candidates or conduct any training program for them. Instead, it is the job of the employer to show their employee’s credentials to OSHA that they have successfully completed the training as per the standard rule.
OSHA talks about compliance
OSHA is not supposedto check whether the training is conducted online or regular. It maintains thatall businesses should operate in adherence to the established rules and regulations to prevent the loss of life and properties in the workplace. This concept of compliance enables businesses to behave responsibly towards the workers, the management of the staff, and towards the customers.
Stages of training
- Formal classroom training includes a live discussionon the forklift profession done with the help of videos, lectures, and relatedtraining modules
- Practical training includes real-life instruction onhow to drive a forklift under the guidance of a trainer.
- Evaluation is the third stage when the trainer checkhow well the trainee has performed in the entire duration of thetraining.
Safety inspection
According to rule, adaily inspection is a must before driving a forklift. The operator is expectedto check if there is any fault in the engine, bolts and nuts, fire extinguisher, battery, wheels and tires, fluid leaks, lights, horns like any other normal vehicle. These things come under visual check-up. While the checking of the forward and backward movement of the vehicle, looking for any unusual sound and reporting such incidents to the seniors, etc. come under the pre-use checks.
Renewal of training is necessary in the following conditions
- When the employer is given a new forklift todrive
- If there are any changes in the location of the workor the nature of working conditions
- If the employee met with an accident or a nearescape or operate the vehicle in a rash manner
- If performance is not up to the mark
Concluding thoughts
No matter whereveryou live in the United States you will need to undergo training to join in theheavy industries. The mode of training is entirely your choice, either you can do it online or under a regular environment. In both the situations, you mustjoin a reputed training school.
Ifyou are looking for OSHA forklift training online in CA, you should get in touch with us. We have the best trainers available for variousforklift courses which are affordable, short term, valuable, and prepared according to the current industry demands.
