Program Content

Employers are responsible for providing adequate training to employees who will be operating industrial equipment, such as lift trucks and tractors. The training program content should address topics such as the following:

• Types of trucks the operator will be authorized to operate
• Differences between the truck and the automobile
• Truck controls and instrumentation
• Engine or motor operation
• Steering and maneuvering
• Visibility, including restrictions due to loading
• Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations
• Vehicle capacity
• Vehicle stability
• Any vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform
• Refueling, and charging and recharging of batteries
• Operating limitations
• Any other operating instructions, warnings, or precautions listed in the operator's manual for the types of vehicle that the employee is being trained to operate

The training program content should also address workplace-related topics such as:

• Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated
• Composition of loads to be carried and load stability
• Load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking
• Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated
• Narrow aisles and other restricted places where the vehicle will be operated
• Hazardous locations where the vehicle will be operated
• Ramps and other sloped surfaces that could affect the vehicle's stability
• Closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a build-up of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust
• Other unique or potentially hazardous conditions in the workplace that could affect safe operation

To learn more about Industrial Equipment visit our Cal/OSHA Industrial Equipment, Lift Trucks and Tractors Online Training web page.