Why You Need a Forklift Trainer On Staff

You have OSHA-certified forklift operators on staff. Yet, there’s still more you can do to engage your workers in forklift safety training. As part of your efforts, you can offer your workers the opportunity to become forklift safety trainers. To do so, you can let your workers enroll in a certification program for forklift trainers. 

What Is Forklift Trainer Certification?

If your business uses forklifts, you need forklift training and certification. It’s required by OSHA and helps you create a safe worksite. Additionally, forklift training and certification helps reduce the risk of forklift accidents, injuries, and fatalities. It also helps you avoid costly fines and medical costs resulting from accidents caused by untrained workers. 

There is a lot to like about forklift training and certification. But, time and money are required to train and certify forklift workers, which is why trainer certification is a great idea. 

Most companies use one of two methods to train and certify their forklift workers: they send their workers to offsite training, or they use online forklift training from companies. The latter approach is faster and more cost-effective than the former, and it also allows workers to take the training when it is most convenient for them. 

There’s another way to conduct forklift training that has long-term benefits, too — becoming a forklift trainer. In fact, if you’re an employer, you can teach one or more workers to become OSHA-certified forklift trainers.

How Forklift Instructor Training Works

If you own a fleet of forklifts or operate a business that uses forklifts, it can be beneficial to let workers become OSHA-certified forklift trainers. Onsite forklift safety training can save time and money. It also ensures that you won’t have to send new workers to an offsite training facility and lose a day or more of productivity.

As an employer, you may think you don’t have the time to train forklift trainers. But, it’s easier than you think and offers many benefits.

Once your aspiring forklift trainer signs up for our Train a Trainer program, they’ll learn all they need to train others in return. Whether that person is a supervisor, foreman, safety officer, or the owner of the company, they’ll become an invaluable resource for onboarding new employees. Don’t be daunted by confusing language from OSHA. Our program demystifies complicated legal terminology, making it easy to understand. Upon completion of the course, your new forklift trainer will receive all the documentation necessary to prove OSHA compliance. It’s as easy as that!

When you have an OSHA-certified forklift trainer on staff, you can:

• Train new employees as soon as they are hired.
• Retrain forklift workers when their three-year certification expires.
• Avoid the costs of offsite training.
• Help workers accelerate their career growth.
• Save time and money on forklift training.

Forklift training covers many areas, including how to:

• Drive a forklift
• Safely lift, lower, and transport heavy loads
• Avoid jobsite hazards
• Maneuver a forklift in tight spaces

Forklift training also covers how to conduct safety checks before starting work. This includes checking fluid levels, belts, hoses, and other parts of a forklift to ensure that the lift is safe to operate. 

Benefits of Having a Forklift Trainer On Staff

There are a number of exciting benefits that come with having a forklift trainer on your team. For starters, you’ll be able to easily maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. Any time a new employee is hired on, your trainer can quickly and conveniently put them through the forklift operator training process. The trainer can oversee the assessment and practical exam aspects of the certification process, too. This all adds up to fast, affordable training that you don’t have to send new employees off-site to complete.

Bringing training in-house can reduce disruptions to your business. With a forklift trainer in the building, employees can earn their forklift certification without ever leaving the premises. This ensures the fastest rates of productivity possible. It may even lead to an increase in staff retention, as employees see how much you’re willing to invest in their skills. 

Another major perk of having a forklift trainer on staff is an improved familiarity with business processes. By streamlining the training experience, you’ll make the entire hiring process a little easier to navigate. New employees don’t need to be hired and immediately sent off for training. Instead, the entire organization is on the same page about training requirements and safety protocol from the start.

How to Earn a Forklift Trainer Certificate

Here are the steps required to earn a forklift trainer certificate.

1. Choose a Forklift Instructor Training Course

Select a forklift instructor training course based on experience and skill level. Remember, the key to becoming a certified forklift trainer is that “extra-level” knowledge and instruction you can only get from a trusted training source like ForkliftCertification.com (FLC). As such, choose your forklift instructor training course wisely, so you can ensure your workers can learn the skills they need to become expert forklift safety trainers.

2. Register for the Program

The sign-up process for a trainer certification program is fast and seamless. Once enrolled, a worker can begin the program and complete it without delay. FLC’s online forklift certification trainer program takes only about an hour from start to finish. To begin the training, create an account, and a worker is good to go. At this point, the worker can complete our forklift instructor training course from any location where he or she is connected to the internet. There’s no time limit for the training, so workers can take it at their convenience. 

3. Get Certified

After a worker completes our online trainer certification course, he or she will receive proof of certification. We ensure that workers can download and print a card to prove that they have successfully completed our course.

Forklift Instructor Training FAQs

If you’re still feeling confused about how to earn your forklift trainer certification, allow us to illuminate you. These frequently asked questions may shed light on any remaining questions you might have about the training process:

How Much Does Forklift Certification Training Cost?

The cost of certification training for your forklift operators varies. Ultimately, the training program you select dictates how much you pay to help your workers become OSHA-approved forklift operators.

How Long Does Forklift Trainer Certification Last?

OSHA guidelines require all forklift workers to get certified every three years. This involves taking refresher training to keep workers up to date on any changes in OSHA guidelines for forklift safety. Workers may need to get retrained sooner than three years under certain conditions. 

Conditions that may require a forklift worker to get retrained before their forklift safety certification lapses include: 

• The worker operates a forklift in an unsafe manner.
• The worker was involved in a forklift accident or nearly caused a forklift accident.
• The worker receives an evaluation that outlines unsafe forklift usage.
• The worker is assigned to operate a different type of forklift.

OSHA doesn’t certify forklift trainers, so they are not required to get retrained every three years. However, it’s still a good idea to retrain forklift trainers periodically. This is due to the fact that OSHA may issue new safety regulations or forklift features and capabilities change frequently.

Do You Need an OSHA-Certified Forklift Trainer On Staff?

Unlike forklift workers, forklift trainers do not need to be certified by OSHA. Instead, OSHA leaves it up to the employer to determine whether a forklift trainer is qualified to teach others. Even so, if you plan to have a forklift trainer on staff, putting them through a training and certification program is a smart move. 

Operating a forklift can be difficult and risky. A forklift is bulky and heavy, and it can easily tip over. Meanwhile, it only takes one mistake to cause a forklift accident that can lead to a serious injury or death. In order to teach forklift skills to others, trainers must have a thorough knowledge of OSHA safety guidelines. 

Why Should I Choose FLC for Forklift Trainer Certification?

When it comes to forklift training, there is no need to leave anything to chance. By partnering with FLC, you can provide your workers with OSHA-certified forklift training. Plus, you can help your workers become forklift trainers who can teach their peers about all aspects of forklift safety. 

FLC is a trusted online resource for forklift certification training. For nearly two decades, we have helped businesses teach workers how to safely operate forklifts. We also provide in-depth training that enables forklift operators to teach their coworkers the ins and outs of forklift safety. As a result, we empower businesses with the tools they need to teach forklift operators how to correctly use forklifts. 

Forklift Safety Training Options

FLC is proud to provide comprehensive forklift safety training options to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Here’s a look at our three forklift safety training options:

1. Train a Trainer

Our Train a Trainer course is available for $149. The course enables anyone who wants to become a forklift safety trainer to do so.

Once a worker completes our Train a Trainer course, he or she can teach others about forklift safety. This ensures your in-house forklift safety trainer can help others become OSHA-compliant lift operators.

You can enroll your workers in our Train a Trainer course risk-free. Our course is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. So, if you are not satisfied with it after one year, we’ll provide you with a prompt, no-questions-asked, 100% refund.

2. Employee Training Kit

Our Employee Training Kit is a terrific option if you want to educate your entire workforce about forklift safety. The kit is available for $299 and includes everything you need to get your workers up to speed on forklift safety topics.

If you purchase our Employee Training Kit, you’ll receive:

• Specialized curricula for warehouse forklifts, order pickers, and other types of forklifts
• Step-by-step guides for forklift safety trainers and operators
• Printable templates for operator cards, student hand-outs, and more
• PowerPoint presentation for forklift safety trainers

With our Employee Training Kit, you’ll have no trouble helping your workers earn OSHA forklift certification. And, if you have concerns or questions as your workers earn their certification, we’re here to assist you as well.

3. Bundle and Save

For $399, you can purchase our Bundle and Save package, which includes our Train a Trainer course and Employee Training Kit.

Our Bundle and Save package is a one-stop resource for forklift certification. It gives you the resources you need to teach workers about forklift safety and allow them to become trainers. When you purchase this package, you can save $50 in comparison to buying our Train a Trainer course and Employee Training Kit, too.Don’t wait to explore our forklift training options. Click the button below and take the first step to help your workers earn OSHA forklift safety certification! 

Begin Your Forklift Instructor Training Now

Forklift instructor training can do wonders to educate your workforce about workplace safety. By bringing training in-house, you save money and time. You’ll also help foster a culture of safety and OSHA compliance. With FLC resources at your disposal, your organization will reap all the benefits of having a forklift trainer on-site.

Still have questions about our offerings? Reach out today for answers and guidance on how to get started. To learn more, please contact us online or call us today at (888) 278-8896.