Many readers have asked us just what the forklift training and certification process entails from start to finish. So we put together this simple forklift training guide to outline the process you should follow in order to become operator certified.
Forklift certification is a 3 step process and should take you no longer than half a day to complete successfully.
Step 1: Complete the initial two steps of training
- Theoretical Forklift Training
- Practical Forklift Training
Step 2: Undertake a Supervised Evaluation
After the initial forklift training, the employer or operator supervisor (if undertaken through an external organization) must conduct a formal evaluation of the employees operation skills and driving ability. This evaluation will be documented in an official training log – however this does not mean you are certified just yet.
Step 3: Forklift Certification
The final step in the process is the certification stage, whereby the employer or agent acting on behalf of the employer will formally certify the employee to operate a forklift for that employer. This is by far the most important issue for the employer. By certifying a particular employee the employer is certifying that they trust the employee will not:
- cause any damage to equipment whilst operating a forklift
- cause serious injury or fatality to themselves or others whilst operating the forklift
- partake in any negligent operational behavior whilst in control of a forklift
This whole process generally will only take a few hours to a day to complete, and once done will be valid for approximately three years.