• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require workplace-specific Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) training.

• Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated;
• Ramps and other sloped surfaces that could affect the vehicle’s stability;
• Composition of loads to be carried and load stability;
• Load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking;
• Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated;
• Narrow aisles and other restricted areas where the vehicle will be operated;
• Hazardous (classified) locations where the vehicle will be operated;
• Closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust; and
• Other unique or potentially hazardous environmental conditions in the workplace that could affect safe operation.

Evaluation

Evaluation of each PIT operator’s performance is required at least once every three years.

Certification

OSHA has no requirement that a forklift operator have a valid driver’s license but does require that every forklift operator be trained and certified to operate the PIT in the workplace. The employer must have a record documenting that the driver has successfully completed the training.