FORKLIFT/LIFT TRUCK, Safe Practices

Course Outline

Prerequisites:   This course shall have no formal pre-requisite.

Course Length: 3-4 hours - Course length shall vary depending on the number of students.  Total course time does not include breaks.

Class Size:   The maximum number of students that may be trained and tested per instructor shall be thirty–five (35) in the classroom session and twenty (20) in the practical session.  A second instructor shall be added for the practical session after twenty (20) and exercises divided into two groups.

Course Objective:

• To provide employees assigned to operate industrial forklift/lift truck the necessary skills to safely perform their jobs.
• To provide students with recommended practices and guidelines to perform safely while working with forklift/lift trucks.
• Students will be given the knowledge and taught these skills in a classroom and practical setting. 
• Students should be able to demonstrate these necessary skills during practical examination and demonstrate knowledge during written examination.

Course Design:

• Power Point© / Lecture / Audio Video / Visual Aids
• Practical Exercises

Successful Course Completion:

• Requires a minimum score of 70% or better, unless otherwise specified by the student’s employer. 
• Students will have no more than forty-five (45) minutes to complete the exam.
• Grades shall be calculated by dividing the number of questions answered correctly by the total number of exam questions (25).
• Successful completion of practical sessions is also mandatory.

Course Content Summary:

• Classroom
• Practical

Breaks – 5 to 15 minutes (approximately every hour)

Lunch – Not Applicable

Course Outline

• Training Requirements
• Safe Practices
• Types of Trucks
• Preventive Maintenance
• Inspection
• Re-fueling / Recharging
• Surface Conditions
• Load Manipulation
• Pedestrian Traffic
• Examination

Practical Session:

Practical training shall be limited to twenty(20) students per class before a second instructor is added and shall be documented using the Forklift/Lift Truck Practical Checklist. 

Forklift/Lift Truck Practical shall verify the following:

• Demonstrates the ability to perform pre-use inspection as required
• Knows how to deadline or take the vehicle out of service if it is unsafe to operate
• Clutch operation (as required)
• Inching Control (on automatic vehicle)
• Smooth starts & stops
• Ability to react to unusual or emergency situations.
• Demonstrates understanding of how easily the vehicle can overturn
• Moves material in a safe manner
• Travels at adequate speeds with load as low as possible
• Adequate PPE
• Demonstrates knowledge of safe parking
• Mast vertical
• Forks on floor (4-6 inches)
• Parking Brake set
• Valve closed (if propane)
• Removes key

Each student is required to pass a written exam (70%) as well as demonstrate practical skills.  The practical skills, outlined above, are taught in classroom session and demonstrated during Practical Training.

Training Center Provided Material

None

Student Requirements

            PPE
            Onsite Forklift/Lift Truck

Reference Material / Documents

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178