How to Get Forklift Training
Safety has become an important part of industrial and manufacturing jobs as employers, industry and the government have worked hard to lower the number of injuries and deaths that occur. With more than 95,000 forklift accidents each year, forklift training has become a federal requirement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for anyone wanting to operate or drive a forklift, even if they only do so once in a while. Most forklift training can be completed in a few hours as long as you know where and how to get it.
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Contact local safety councils. A variety of local safety councils exist in communities throughout the United States (such as the Suncoast Safety Council in Florida). They are responsible for coordinating and providing safety training in their cities and surrounding areas. Since many businesses use forklifts, many local safety councils offer classes in how to operate them.
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Check for forklift training at community colleges and technical schools. Higher education institutions often offer vocational programs to prepare students to enter the workforce after only one to two years of education. Many of these occupations are in manufacturing, construction or similar professions where forklift operation is a must. Forklift training is part of the course work, and you might be able to enroll in those classes.
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Find your local chapter of the National Safety Council. Several local chapters of the National Safety Council, such as the Greater Omaha chapter, provide forklift training. Some local chapters do in-house training for their local employers.
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Register for the training and attend it. Forklift training classes are often held on weekends when most workers have time off and can attend. You'll need to register and pay in advance if your employer isn't going to cover the cost of the class. You will learn how to properly operate a forklift and how to prevent an accident, and you will get hands-on experience operating the machinery.
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Get proof of completing forklift training. You should receive a certificate or document that proves you have completed forklift training as required by OSHA. Your employer needs to keep a copy of this document in case he is audited by OSHA, but it's also wise to keep a copy for yourself in case you look for another job that requires forklift training.
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