OSHA Recertification Requirements

OSHA, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, requires forklift/equipment operators to be recertified at least once every three (3) years.

Refresher training (recertification) shall include theory training, practical training (if required) and an evaluation (driving test). These components when effectively documented provides OSHA the required proof that training and certification has been conducted as per the requirements of the regulations.

OSHA also requires refresher training in the following events:

  • The operator is observed to operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner
  • The operator has been involved in an accident or near-miss incident
  • The operator has received an evaluation that reveals that the operator is not operating the truck safely
  • The operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck
  • A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the truck

In the event you notice that your operator is operating their equipment in an unsafe manner, they should not operate the equipment until refresher training is conducted and they understand why the operations they were conducting is indeed unsafe.

Should your operator be involved in an accident or a near-miss incident, as above, they should not operate the equipment until the completion of refresher training.

Also, should the equipment fundamentally change from one type to another, e.g. standard levers vs monotrol control or propane vs electric, then further training and recertification would be required.

And lastly, if the environment in which the operator operates changes, e.g. racking bay to trailer or indoor to outdoor, once again further training and recertification would be required.

OSHA requires recertification and retraining and many different circumstances even if the 3 year period has not passed. It is crucial that your company has effectively documented this process, otherwise in the eyes of OSHA, it never happened.

To learn more about the NIS Train the Trainer Program, feel free to call us at 1-866-344-3950 or visit NIS Train the Trainer Programs for further information.