License Requirements for a Forklift in the State of Michigan
- The employer is responsible for training, evaluating, and testing an employee who needs a powered industrial truck permit to perform his job.forklift image by Goran Bogicevic from Fotolia.com
In Michigan, Part 21 of the Powered Industrial Truck Safety Standard set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to train, evaluate and certify any employee who operates a forklift or other powered industrial truck. While the Michigan law does not outline the specific training a forklift operator must undergo, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration does. - According to Part 21 of the Powered Industrial Truck Safety Standard, there are three types of powered industrial trucks.
The high-lift platform truck is a self-loading truck that is used for moving loaded skid platforms from one place to another.
Used in warehouses, yards, and industrial plants, the industrial crane truck picks up and carries supplies over hard-surfaced areas.
The rough-terrain forklift truck contains a vertical mast, pivoted boom, or both, so it can reach different lengths and can be equipped with attachments. It operates on natural terrain and construction sites. - The employer is responsible for training and testing an employee for his powered industrial truck permit. To pass his OSHA recognized test, the operator must know the load limits of each different vehicle, how to conduct daily maintenance checks and how to sound a warning. He must also pay attention to clearance heights; know his surface conditions; keep the forks close to the floor and tilted back if carrying a load; keep the body within the running lines of the truck, and other safety and maintenance measures.
There are additional requirements for operating a rough-terrain forklift truck. The operator must also be aware of the stability requirements such as proper speeds, surface changes, and tire inflation, and possess familiarity with all the controls and instruments of the forklift truck. The operator needs to know traveling procedures, including never engaging the differential lock when driving fast or making a turn; proper loading techniques; how to handle suspended loads, and precautions for elevating personnel. Once the operator obtains his permit, he should keep it on him at all time so he can produce it when asked. - Forklift operators must be re-evaluated every three years. Though refresher training is recommended because it ensures that the employee retains the ability and knowledge to operate the powered industrial truck safely, it is not required. This training is suggested, not only after every three years, but also when the operator has been seen using the vehicle in an unsafe way; he has been in an accident or near accident with the vehicle; an evaluation reveals that he is not operating the truck properly; the truck has been altered with attachments; the operator has been assigned to drive a different type of powered industrial truck; or a change in the workplace occurs that affects the safe operation of the vehicle.
