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The New Challenges Facing Forklift Safety Training, and How to Overcome Them

Apr. 8 2022 News By FMH Team

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Every industry faces challenges right now. Material Handling is no exception.

Take forklift operator training. It's not the easiest requirement to meet – finding time, meeting OSHA standards, keeping new operators & experienced operators at the same training level.

Right now though, our industry has three additional challenges to deal with.

  • COVID safety restrictions from local or county officials
  • Super-high forklift demand
  • A snarled global supply chain

Despite all these, OSHA requirements for safety evaluations still apply. All employers must evaluate their forklift operators at least once every 3 years. When did you last run your evaluations?

OSHA even increased the fines for non-compliance this year—they now start at $14,502 per violation.

So let's see if we can make training easier for you. Here are some recommendation from FMH's Training team.


COVID Safety Restrictions: No Extra Time Needed

While safety training classes occur in groups, they don't need much modification to protect against COVID. The most important elements are:

  • Direct training on a forklift
  • Classroom-style learning, in person
  • Written exams

Lockdown restrictions don't change those processes. We implemented mask requirements, distancing between attendees, and wiping down forklift equipment between uses.

This satisfies COVID restrictions and keeps attendees safe. None of this affects the quality of the safety training either.


Supply Chain Limits + Super-High Demand: Stagger Training Times, and Train Trainers

Almost every industry suffers from supply chain delays (or flat-out lack of product!). At the same time, super-high demand strains our economy.

Where does that strain fall? On distribution & warehousing.

How do you find time to send any operators to training? Here are four potential solutions.

  • ONE, schedule training classes at a time when you normally expect lower workplace activity, such as early mornings or weekends.
  • TWO, stagger refresher training across multiple days/weeks.
  • This way everyone can take it without emptying the warehouse. It also gives workers a break, since they don't have to go anywhere.
  • This is why FMH runs its training classes every month. Book your team across 3-6 months, notify everyone, and you're done.
  • THREE, leverage on-site training as much as possible. Your team doesn't have to go anywhere, minimizing their time crunch (and your workflow disruption).
  • FMH gladly sends trainers on-site for teams of 3 people and up.
  • FOUR, use a Train the Trainer program. You've probably heard of this before, but just in case, 'Train the Trainer' refers to a training program which gives one of your team members the knowledge & materials to train operators on-site.
  • This gives your team more flexibility to fulfill their training requirements. One person needs a refresher? The trainer handles it.
  • Each FMH location has a Train the Trainer program, running several times a year.


FMH's Training Options for All Customers

FMH offers training classes through all of our facilities: Denver, El Paso, and Albuquerque. You can request on-site training from all of these locations as well.

We're doing everything we can to make training available to every customer, where it's needed, when it's most efficient.


You still have plenty of time to schedule out training for the year. To plan out the year's operator training, contact the FMH Training Department by any of these methods:

  • Call your local FMH office:
  • Denver - 800-451-6749
  • Albuquerque - 800-325-7669
  • El Paso - 800-592-1035
  • Ask your FMH technician/customer service associate about training programs.
  • Visit us at FMHSolutions.com/Forklift-Safety-Training.