Can you believe there were 7,290 non-fatal injuries and almost 80 deaths from forklift accidents in 2020 alone?

Forklifts may not seem as complicated to operate as, say, a Boeing 737-800, but they still require extensive training. Without the proper knowledge, you could cause an accident that leaves someone maimed or worse. Once you learn how to operate one, you can even make a career out of it.

Are you wondering how easy or difficult it may be? Keep reading to learn all about what you need to become a certified forklift operator.

Taking Forklift Classes

If you’re serious about getting your forklift certification, then you’ll need to take relevant classes that meet OSHA requirements. The classes will involve a wide range of information relating to this machine, including the basics of a forklift, the different versions that exist, how to operate it, and more.

Since safety is paramount, you can expect to learn about the specific hazards that come from operating and storing forklifts. Forklift maintenance and inspection is yet another thing you’ll need to learn. The safest forklifts are kept in tip-top shape so that they always run like a dream.

One of the final courses you’ll take will involve OSHA requirements and regulations. This way, you won’t get in trouble because you weren’t familiar with the procedures that the organization lays out in its manuals and elsewhere. The best course providers will include resources you can use after you get your forklift license and beyond.

Attending Refresher Courses

Even if you’ve been forklift operating for a long while, you’ll have to take a refresher course at least once every few years. This may seem like a hassle at first, but the technology associated with forklifts isn’t static. Instead, it grows and evolves like other pieces of equipment.

At some point, you could come across a new design that you’ve never seen before. Operating this machinery could end up reducing the amount of forklift safety on a given project site.

Whether you’re taking a refresher course or your very first class, it’s important to find an instructor who is knowledgeable and patient. One way you can do this is by looking up online reviews that have been left by previous forklift students. An instructor may even let you observe a class for a day to see what it’s like.

Are You Ready to Become a Certified Forklift Operator?

Now that you’ve learned all about what you need to become a certified forklift operator, you can diversify your skillset and stand out from the crowd. You’ll certainly make your friends and family members proud.

Superior Industrial Products can provide you with extensive forklift operation training. Our classes meet OSHA certification requirements so that you’ll be ready for your career right away. Aside from this, we also offer forklift rentals, servicing, parts, and more.

To get the ball rolling, feel free to reach out whenever you’re ready. We look forward to helping out in any way we can.