Forklift License British Columbia - In North America, acquiring a forklift license or forklift certification involves classroom and hands-on training. Regulatory control over licensing, certification and training for powered industrial truck operators falls under the jurisdiction of state, provincial and federal groups. Operators can obtain a license either by a third party or through training administered by the employer. In any case, regulatory requirements must be met. Recertification is necessary every two to three years.
The lift truck is a powered industrial machine which is designed together with numerous options, like sit-down and stand-up models, electric and propane versions, and a wide variety of types and sizes to meet the industrial needs of workers. Operator training courses are usually individualized to deal with the particular uses and kinds for which the operator is training. Training on a sit-down, gas-powered lift truck inside a warehouse setting would not be the same as training on a stand-up, propane-powered forklift in a shipyard. The various forklifts and their applications makes it impossible to establish universal licensing requirements for all equipment and industries. Regulatory standards, thus, tend not to focus on particular course requirements but rather on the results of individual training courses.
On the job training which is provided by the employer is the most common way of forklift training licensing and certification. The employer who provides this method of certification is required to provide practical training and classroom sessions on machinery at their place of work. Employers could choose to train staff on each and every type of forklift separately, or to train them on all machines combined. The course incorporates lift truck operation procedures, safety measures, company regulations and forklift maintenance. Subject matters specific to the worksite, like dangerous materials or conditions, should be covered. Following classroom learning, operators are taught how to safely utilize and operate each and every type of lift truck on the worksite.
Certification through a third-party vendor usually requires an on-site component with hands-on practice.
Normally, a certification provided by an employer would not transfer from the current employer to the next employer. Acquiring a forklift license through employer-provided training enables the operator to operate a forklift for that employer only.
Forklift safety would always be an important factor of the forklift license training, although the particulars of the safety training will be dependent upon the machinery being utilized. Several safety issues will differ for every industry and employer. Both third-party providers and employer-provided training might have to deal with extra requirements for safety training in applicable businesses, like for example in marine and offshore operations.