If you operate or employ forklift operators, you’re covered by OSHA’s powered industrial truck standard, 29 CFR 1910.178(l). Here are the requirements in plain English.
1. Training has three required parts
- Formal instruction — lecture, video, written material, or online course covering truck operation and workplace hazards.
- Practical training — demonstrations and hands-on exercises.
- Evaluation — a qualified person evaluates the operator’s performance in the workplace.
The formal instruction and written test can be completed online; the practical evaluation must be done in person.
2. Training must be truck- and workplace-specific
Certification must cover both the type of truck the operator will use and the conditions of the workplace (surfaces, loads, pedestrian traffic, ramps, etc.). OSHA recognizes seven classes of powered industrial trucks, and operators must be evaluated on the class they’ll operate.
3. Operators must be certified before operating
Employers must ensure each operator is trained and certified before they operate a forklift independently. Operating without certification is one of the most-cited OSHA violations.
4. Re-evaluation at least every 3 years
OSHA requires periodic re-evaluation at least once every three years. Refresher training is also required if the operator is involved in an accident or near-miss, is observed operating unsafely, is assigned a different type of truck, or if workplace conditions change.
5. Employer recordkeeping
Employers must keep a record of each operator’s certification, including the operator’s name, training date, evaluation date, and the evaluator’s identity.
6. Operator age
Operators must generally be at least 18 in non-agricultural workplaces.
Who is responsible?
Certification is the employer’s legal responsibility, but the training and written-test portions can be completed by the operator online. US Forklift Certification provides OSHA-compliant training that satisfies the formal-instruction and evaluation-documentation requirements for $58. See also: how to get forklift certified and forklift license vs. certification.
Frequently asked questions
What are the OSHA requirements for forklift certification?
Formal instruction, practical training, and a workplace evaluation, specific to the truck type and workplace, with re-evaluation at least every 3 years and employer recordkeeping.
How often is forklift certification required?
At least every three years, or sooner after an incident, unsafe operation, equipment change, or workplace change.
Can the requirements be met online?
The instruction and written test can; the hands-on evaluation must be done in person by the employer.
Meet the OSHA training requirement today — start the $58 course →
Tip: Check your readiness with our free forklift practice test before you take the real exam.