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Forklift Safety: Certify and Comply

29 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety Training29 CFR 1910.178 - Powered Industrial Trucks
Quick Answer

Forklift Safety: Certify and Comply is a 29-minute online course that covers OSHA powered industrial truck operator training requirements under 29 CFR 1910.178(l), including safe operation principles, pre-shift inspections, and certification requirements. It is designed for forklift operators, warehouse workers, and their supervisors and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Powered industrial trucks ranked 8th on OSHA's FY 2025 Top 10 Most Cited Standards list with 1,826 violations under 29 CFR 1910.178. OSHA data shows that forklift-related incidents cause approximately 100 fatalities and 35,000 serious injuries every year in the United States, with forklift overturns accounting for roughly 25% of all forklift-related deaths. The most commonly cited subsections involve failures in safe operation (1910.178(l)(1) with 531 violations in FY 2024), refresher training and evaluation (305 violations), and operator certification documentation (286 violations). Penalties for serious violations can reach $16,550 per instance, and willful violations can climb to $165,514.

This course provides your forklift operators with the knowledge component of OSHA's required three-part training program. It covers the principles of safe forklift operation, including load capacity, stability, maneuvering, and pedestrian awareness. Your team will learn pre-shift inspection procedures, proper refueling and recharging protocols, and the specific hazards associated with different forklift types. The course addresses OSHA's certification documentation requirements so that safety managers understand what records must be maintained and when refresher training is triggered.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA powered industrial truck training requirements under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)
  • The three-part training model: formal instruction, practical training, and performance evaluation
  • Forklift stability, load capacity, and the stability triangle concept
  • Safe operating procedures including speed, turning, grades, and ramp navigation
  • Pre-shift inspection requirements under 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7)
  • Pedestrian safety and right-of-way rules in warehouse and manufacturing environments
  • Certification documentation requirements and refresher training triggers
  • Refueling, recharging, and battery maintenance safety

Who Needs This Training

  • Warehouse workers operating counterbalance, reach, and order picker forklifts
  • Manufacturing plant employees who operate powered industrial trucks
  • Dock workers and shipping/receiving personnel using forklifts for loading and unloading
  • Construction workers operating rough terrain forklifts on jobsites
  • Supervisors responsible for evaluating forklift operators and maintaining certification records
  • Safety managers establishing or auditing OSHA-compliant forklift training programs

Regulatory Background

OSHA's powered industrial truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178) requires employers to ensure that each forklift operator is competent to operate safely, as demonstrated by successful completion of a three-part training program: formal instruction (lectures, videos, or computer-based training), practical training (hands-on demonstrations), and a performance evaluation in the actual workplace. Operators must be certified before operating independently, and certification must include the operator's name, training date, evaluation date, and the identity of the trainer. Refresher training is required under 1910.178(l)(4) when an operator is involved in an accident or near-miss, is observed operating unsafely, receives a new type of truck, or when workplace conditions change. Evaluations must be conducted at least every three years. Powered industrial trucks ranked 8th on OSHA's FY 2025 Top 10 with 1,826 violations. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, and willful violations reach $165,514.

Frequently Asked Questions

This course satisfies the formal instruction component of OSHA's three-part training requirement under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii). OSHA requires that forklift operators complete formal instruction (which this course provides), practical training with hands-on demonstrations, and a performance evaluation conducted in the actual workplace. Employers must provide all three components before an operator is certified to operate independently.
OSHA requires a performance evaluation at least every three years under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii). Refresher training and evaluation are also required when an operator is involved in an accident or near-miss, is observed operating unsafely, is assigned a different type of truck, or when workplace conditions change in a way that could affect safe operation.
Under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6), employers must certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated. The certification must include the operator's name, the date of training, the date of evaluation, and the identity of the person who performed the training and evaluation. OSHA does not prescribe a specific form but requires that this information be documented and available for inspection.
No. OSHA requires that operator training be specific to the type of truck the operator will be using. There are seven classes of powered industrial trucks, each with different operating characteristics and hazards. If an operator is assigned to a different type of truck, refresher training on the specific equipment is required under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(A).
In FY 2024, the most frequently cited subsections under 29 CFR 1910.178 were: safe operation (l)(1) with 531 violations, refresher training and evaluation (l)(4) with 305 violations, certification requirements (l)(6) with 286 violations, daily pre-shift inspections (q)(7) with 172 violations, and failure to remove unsafe equipment from service (p)(1) with 153 violations.
$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$29.95
per person