At least here, forklift operators are supposed to be certified by taking an OSHA approved course. Some courses are better than others, there is the minimum $49 online course and those better courses that provide hands on training. That will get anybody in the driver's seat however. You can tell just by looking that the HD forklift operator had little training and is a risk vs the skilled warehouse operator that can skillfully place stacked pallets on racks 40 feet up.
-Hal
OSHA doesn’t “certify” any training. Forklift operator training (called powered industrial trucks in the OSHA standard) must be “certified” by the employer and it must include a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material) as well as practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.
Online training alone will not meet the OSHA requirements of the standard. A violation for sure.
The complete “Powered industrial trucks” OSHA standard can be viewed online at osha.gov, standards general industry and scroll down to 1910.178. Training requirements of this standard are at 1910.178(l).
