Introduction
A forklift is a powerful tool that allows one person to precisely lift and place large heavy loads with little effort. Using a tool such as a forklift, cart or hand truck instead of lifting and carrying items by hand can reduce the risk that you will suffer a back injury.
Every year nearly 100 workers are killed and 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift mishaps. This course contains general information about:
- the kinds of forklifts commonly available
- the principles of physics that allow a forklift to lift and move heavy loads safely
- forklift operator training requirements
- some basic operator safety rules
- hazardous locations where carbon monoxide is a problem or a special forklift is needed
- safety while servicing a forklift
This course is general in nature and not designed to be a substitute for operator training in the operation of specific forklifts. Training on specific forklifts should be conducted by competent persons and include opportunities for employees to practice, demonstrate, and be evaluated to certify they have gained the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for proper forklift operation. This course highlights OSHA standard 1910 Subpart N - 1910.178, Materials Handling and Storage, requirements.
Course Objectives
| ID | Objective |
|---|---|
| TO 1.0 | Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment. |
| LO 1.1.1 | Identify common types of forklift injuries. |
| LO 1.1.2 | List and describe forklift safety features. |
| LO 1.1.3 | Describe and give examples of the four basic principles of lifting forklift loads. |
| LO 1.1.4 | Describe the criteria for and give an example of a "safe lift" using a forklift. |
| LO 1.1.5 | Describe the circumstances and give an example of how a lift may become unstable when using a forklift. |
| LO 1.1.6 | Describe the requirements and best practices for ascending and descending an incline using a forklift. |
| LO 1.1.7 | Identify and describe the use of the different types of forklift power sources. |
| LO 1.1.8 | Identify and describe the special forklift attachments used to affect the capacity and safe use of a forklift. |
| LO 1.2.1 | Identify and give examples of hazardous workplace conditions and factors to consider when operating a forklift. |
| LO 1.2.2 | Describe the items and question to ask during a forklift pre-use inspection. |
| LO 1.2.3 | Discuss precautions and best practices while traveling in a forklift. |
| LO 1.2.4 | Describe the procedures for safely loading, unloading, and leaving a forklift unattended. |
| LO 1.2.5 | Describe the requirements and restrictions when lifting or lowering people with a forklift. |
| LO 1.2.6 | Describe the requirements and best practices for establishing and using forklift traffic patterns. |
Key: Terminal Objective (TO), Learning Objective (LO)