Vancouver Forklift License - Acquiring a forklift certification or forklift license in North America will require the trainee to carry out 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 can acquire a license either through training administered by the employer or by a third party. Regardless, regulatory requirements have to be met. Recertification is necessary every two to three years.
The forklift is a powered industrial equipment which is designed together with various options, like sit-down and stand-up models, electric and propane versions, and a wide variety of sizes and types to meet the industrial requirements of workers. Operator training programs are often individualized to be able deal with the particular types and uses for which the operator is training. Training on a gas-powered, sit-down lift truck inside a warehouse setting will not be the same as training on a stand-up, propane-powered forklift in a shipyard. The variety of forklifts and their applications makes it impossible to establish universal licensing requirements for all industries and machines. Regulatory standards, hence, have a tendency not to concentrate on particular program requirements but rather on the outcome of individual training courses.
Employer-provided, on-the-job training is the most common method for operators to obtain their forklift certification or license. This method of certification requires the employer to provide classroom sessions and practical training on equipment within the workplace. Employers can opt to train employees on every type of forklift separately, or to train them on all machinery combined. The course incorporates forklift operation methods, company policies, forklift maintenance and safety procedures. Subject matters particular to the worksite, like for example hazardous materials or conditions, should be included. Following classroom learning, operators are taught how to safely use and operate each kind of lift truck on the worksite.
Certification through a third-party vendor usually needs an on-site component with hands-on practice.
It must be noted that employer-provided certifications do not transfer from one employer to the next. Obtaining a forklift license through employer-provided training enables the operator to operate a lift truck for that employer only.
Forklift safety would always be an important factor of the lift truck license training, though the specifics of the safety training will be dependent upon the machinery being used. Certain safety problems will differ for each employer and industry. Both employer-provided training and third-party providers may have to deal with extra requirements for safety training in applicable businesses, like in offshore and marine operations.