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Welcome, and congratulations on being designated by your company as the "Trainer" for Forklift Safety. We will review everything you need to know to efficiently and successfully certify forklift operators within your workplace.

If at any time you, your supervisor, or your employer have ANY questions regarding the information below, please send your inquiries to hr@championpeo.com.


The OSHA rules state:

" The Training and evaluation shall be conducted by a person with the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence."

Who can be a designated and qualified Trainer/Evaluator?

  • Shop Foreman
  • Supervisor
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Branch Manager
  • Safety Officer
  • Owner of the Company

"All training and evaluation must be conducted by persons with the necessary knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.”

An example of a qualified trainer would be a person who by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or. . “who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience has demonstrated the ability to train and evaluate powered industrial truck operators.” 


  • This means you aren't required to have any "special training" to conduct your safety training for your company but you must have proficient experience in operating forklifts. It is a must that the Trainer/Evaluator document their qualifications/experience In the Forklift Trainer Qualification Form so if OSHA visits, they will be pleased to see that the Trainer is someone who has the proper experience to do so. 
  • First, review the Responsibilities of the Trainer presentation to familiarize yourself with the responsibilities and duties of being a Trainer certifying forklift operators. 
  • Complete the Evaluator Designation Letter form and file it away/keep it for record-keeping purposes along with the Trainer Certification which you can keep and present at your workplace. TIP: Designate a 3-ring binder for all of your Forklift Material recordkeeping so you stay organized. 
  • You should familiarize yourself with the OSHA Regulations Safety First material as well as the Training Materials for all Classes 1,4,5 | 2,3 and 7, the Exams for all Classes 1,4,5 | 2,3 and 7, and the On-site Evaluation Forms for all Classes 1,4,5 | 2,3 and 7 so you can answer any questions that your employees may have during the certification process.
  • Be sure to fill out and keep/file the Training Roster so you can keep track of which employees have went through training and have been forklift certified. 

 

Three Options on How To Certify your Employees


Next, are three (3) options on how you can certify employees within your workplace. Depending on your situation you may want to read all three to see which would be the best route to choose.

Option 1 - Self Study

  1. Print the appropriate Training Materials for Classes 1,4,5 and/or Classes 2,3 and/or Class 7 and the OSHA Regulations Safety First material. 
  2. The employee can then go through the printed Training Materials at their own pace for the specific Classes he/she is getting certified in.
  3. Administer the appropriate Exam for Classes 1,4,5 and/or Classes 2,3 and/or Class 7 when the employee has completed their self-study.
  4. Once the Exam has been completed, go over the Exam with the appropriate Exam Answer Key for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  5. Once the Exam has been graded and the employee has successfully passed the Exam, perform the On-Site Evaluation for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  6. After successful completion of the On-Site Evaluation Form, you must fill out and file away/keep the Operator Certification Form for record-keeping purposes. This form states that the employee has completed the necessary steps to be properly certified. Then, you may fill out and present to the newly certified forklift operator their appropriate Operator Certificate of Completion form for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7 and their Certified Forklift Operator Card (Front) and (Back).
  7. Remember to print out and give each Operator the Daily Operator Checklist. The Daily Operator Checklist is the checklist the operators should be using every day when they get to work to look at the equipment and check for issues.



Option 2 - Individual Computer Study

  1. Have your employee go through the appropriate Training Materials for Classes 1,4,5 and/or Classes 2,3 and/or Class 7 and the OSHA Regulations Safety First material on a computer at the worksite.
  2. Administer the appropriate Exam for Classes 1,4,5 and/or Classes 2,3 and/or Class 7 when the employee has completed their appropriate Training Materials and is ready to be tested.
  3. Once the Exam has been completed, go over the Exam with the appropriate Exam Answer Key for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  4. Once the Exam has been graded and the employee has successfully passed the Exam, perform the On-Site Evaluation for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  5. After successful completion of the On-Site Evaluation Form, you must fill out and file away/keep the Operator Certification Form for record-keeping purposes. This form states that the employee has completed the necessary steps to be properly certified. Then, you may fill out and present to the newly certified forklift operator their appropriate Operator Certificate of Completion form for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7 and their Certified Forklift Operator Card (Front) and (Back).
  6. Remember to print out and give each Operator the Daily Operator Checklist. The Daily Operator Checklist is the checklist the operators should be using every day when they get to work to look at the equipment and check for issues.



Option 3 - Group Classroom Instruction

  1. Group your employees, who are to be certified, together and conduct a "class".
  2. Explain to the class what is to be expected moving forward. First, you will go through the OSHA Regulations Safety First training material.
  3. Then, you will go through the appropriate Training Materials for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7 in accordance with that Class(es) you will be certifying your employees in.
  4. Administer the appropriate Exam for Classes 1,4,5 and/or Classes 2,3 and/or Class 7 when finished presenting and taking questions.
  5. Once the Exam has been completed, go over the Exam with the appropriate Exam Answer Key for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  6. Once the Exams have been graded and the employees have successfully passed the Exam, perform the On-Site Evaluation for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7.
  7. After successful completion of the On-Site Evaluation Form for each employee, you must fill out and file away/keep the Operator Certification Form for record-keeping purposes for each employee. This form states that the employee has completed the necessary steps to be properly certified. Then, you may fill out and present to the newly certified forklift operator their appropriate Operator Certificate of Completion form for Classes 1,4,5, and/or Classes 2,3, and/or Class 7 and their Certified Forklift Operator Card (Front) and (Back).
  8. Remember to print out and give each Operator the Daily Operator Checklist. The Daily Operator Checklist is the checklist the operators should be using every day when they get to work to look at the equipment and check for issues.



Optional (Not Mandatory) Group Classroom Additional Training Materials

The Forklift Videos and the Interactive Presentation Walkthrough, though not required, are meant to provide your employees with more detailed information and cover all of the Classes of Forklift Certifications. You can skip through the parts that do not pertain to the Classes that you are certifying your employees in if you end up using these presentation materials during the Group Classroom Instruction.

  • Forklift Safety and Traning Videos 1,2,3,4,5, and 6.
  • Forklift Training Interactive Presentation Walkthrough - English & Spanish

Spanish Versions of all Forklift Training Material