Forklift Training Rule Goes Into Effect Dec. 1
By Dec. 1, all trucking company employees who use forklifts must be trained in the vehicles’ use under an Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule.
OSHA expects the rule to cost businesses $16.9 million annually in compliance costs, including $1.4 million for the trucking and warehouse industries. In return, the agency says, the regulation will prevent 9,500 injuries and 11 deaths, and save employers $135 million as a result of the reduced accidents and injuries.
The rule requires employees who operate powered industrial trucks, which include forklifts, pallet jacks and motorized hand trucks, to be given initial training. OSHA provides a list of 22 topics that the training must cover, if applicable. The topics include proper operation of the equipment, hazards of operating it and the specific requirements of the OSHA rule. The training must use hands-on and classroom instruction.
For the full story, see the Nov. 29 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
The rule, which covers 1.5 million workers in all industries except agriculture, was issued in December 1998, but its provisions did not come into effect until now ("Lift Group Lauds Training Rules," 4-12, p. 2).
 |  Michael James - Transport Topics |
| Federal rules now require companies to ensure that all forklift operators are trained. |
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