Toronto Forklift License - Getting a forklift certification or forklift license in North America would require the trainee to perform hands-on training in addition to classroom instruction. The provincial, federal and state regulatory bodies are responsible for the licensing, certification and training for powered industrial truck operators. Operators could obtain a license either by a third party or through training administered by the employer. In any case, regulatory requirements should be met. Recertification is required every two to three years.
The lift truck is a powered industrial equipment that is designed along with various alternatives, like sit-down and stand-up models, electric and propane versions, and various types and sizes to meet the industrial needs of employees. Operator training courses are usually individualized to address the particular types and uses 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 propane-powered, stand-up lift truck in a shipyard. The variety of forklifts and their applications makes it impossible to establish universal licensing requirements for all industries and machinery. Regulatory standards, thus, tend not to concentrate on specific program requirements but instead on the results of individual training courses.
On the job training that is provided by the employer is the most common way of forklift training certification and licensing. The employer who offers this method of certification is required to offer practical training and classroom sessions on equipment at their place of work. Employers could opt to train staff on each and every type of forklift separately, or to train them on all machinery combined. The course incorporates lift truck operation methods, company policies, forklift maintenance and safety procedures. Topics specific to the worksite, like for instance hazardous conditions or materials, should be covered. Following classroom learning, operators are taught how to safely operate and use each and every type of forklift on the worksite.
When utilizing a third party trainer, the certification process would usually consist of an on-site component along with hands-on practice.
It should be noted that certifications provided by an employer do not transfer from one employer to the next. Acquiring a lift truck license through employer-provided training permits the operator to run a lift truck for that specific employer only.
The most important aspect of forklift license training is forklift safety. The exact safety training requirements differ from one type of machine to another. Safety issues vary from employer to employer, and from industry to industry. Both employer-provided training and third-party providers may have to deal with extra requirements for safety training in applicable industries, like for example in marine and offshore uses.