Forklift Safety

Forklift operator training and certification is essential to ensure a safe, compliant work environment. For proper forklift certification, operators must be trained on topics such as:

• Vehicle capacity and stability
• Operating instructions
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements
• Load manipulation, stacking and unstacking
• Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated
• Operating in narrow aisles and restricted places
• The requirements of OSHA’s forklift standard

OSHA requires that the person doing the powered industrial truck training have the knowledge, training, skills, and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence. It is the employer’s responsibility to determine who has the knowledge, training, skills and experience.

OSHA does not deem it necessary to require accreditation of the trainer, stating that trainers and evaluators with different backgrounds can achieve the level of ability necessary to teach and evaluate trainees. This can be the employer, an employee, or an outside training source.

For more details, view our Forklift Training FAQs and browse our forklift training solutions.

Forklift safety violations consistently appear on OSHA’s list of Most Cited Standards. Below are the most common violations for general industry:

1. 1910.178(l)(1)(i) – Operator not properly trained (initial)
2. 1910.178(l)(4)(i) – Operator not properly trained (refresher training)
3. 1910.178(l)(6) – Not keeping safe distance from edge of platform
4. 1910.178(p)(1) – Not taking defective truck out-of-operation
5. 1910.178(q)(7) – Failing to properly inspect forklift before operation

Get quick access to OSHA's word-for-word Part 1910 workplace safety regulations in our OSHA Rules for General Industry: 1910 and Other Essential Regulations Guide.

Below are the most common powered industrial truck violations for the construction industry:

1. 1910.178(l)(1)(i) – Operator not properly trained (initial)
2. 1910.178(l)(4)(i) – Operator not properly trained (refresher training)
3. 1910.178(l)(6) – Not keeping safe distance from edge of platform
4. 1910.178(p)(1) – Not taking defective truck out-of-operation
5. 1910.178(q)(7) – Failing to properly inspect forklift before operation

Check out our OSHA Rules for Construction Activities Manual for full-text Part 1926 and applicable 1910 regulations.