The bottom line is this: if your employees don’t have the proper forklift license credentials, OSHA can impose severe fines and penalties upon you, as well as initiate legal action against your business. They’re used for many different tasks on a wide range of indoor and outdoor job sites, but regardless of the location, one of the things they have in common is that Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires all forklift operators to be licensed.įorklift jobs and forklift licenses go hand in hand. This type of training will make you a more valuable employee for your company.Forklift License FORKLIFT OPERATOR LICENSESįorklifts can be found at workplaces in virtually every major city and small town across the country.
You will learn how to work more efficiently and effectively while still being safe. It Can Make You a More Efficient and Effective Worker: Proper training will help you become a better forklift operator. If you haven't been properly trained in the correct safety procedures of operating a lifting device, you run the risk of getting into an accident that can either cause bodily harm or cause fatal injuries for yourself or your co-workers. It Can Save Your Life or Someone Else's: A forklift can be an extremely dangerous piece of equipment. If you do not have the proper training and certification required to operate a forklift, then you are not legally allowed to do so. It is extremely important, however, that you know and follow forklift certification requirements in Ontario because it is the law. It's the Law: Unlike driving a car, you don’t need an actual license to operate a forklift in Ontario. Why Following Forklift Certification Requirements in Ontario Is Important To learn more about these different classifications, click here. The vehicle's classification is determined by two main factors: the type of fuel used to power it and the type of work or purpose it is used for. There are 8 basic classifications of forklifts/lift trucks. If your company buys new equipment that is different from the equipment that you have previously used or if your change jobs and are working on different equipment, then you will need training on these new devices. Because of this you need to enroll in a course that will teach you to properly operate the specific type of lift truck that you will be operating. Get Training if You Switch Forklift Types: This means taking a refresher course to keep your skills up-to-date. The Canadian Safety Association requires you to renew your certification every 3 years. It is a good idea to complete a practical retraining course every 18 months. Sometimes training will be done at your place of work, or if this is not possible, there are training facilities that allow you to come there to do your training on their equipment.Īt the end of your practical training, you should be given a practical test to make sure that you are fully competent.
You will want to get that practice under the guidance of a professional trainer - not on your own.
Just like driving a car, operating a forklift will improve with practice. Your practical training should allow you to have plenty of time actually operating the type of equipment that you will be using in your job. The more practice time you get, the better your skills will become - image source: Rashtriya Technical Institute