Forklift training makes a lot more sense when it looks like the job the operator will actually be doing.
That’s the idea behind onsite forklift training.
Instead of sending employees somewhere else to learn on unfamiliar equipment, the trainer comes to your workplace. Operators train on the forklifts they use, around the racking, docks, aisles, loads, pedestrians and hazards they deal with every day.
For employers in British Columbia, onsite training can also make scheduling easier, especially when several employees need new forklift training or recertification at the same time.
But what actually happens during onsite forklift training? And what does an operator need to complete before they can safely operate a forklift in BC?
Here’s how the process works.
This causes a lot of confusion.
There is no government-issued forklift licence in British Columbia.
WorkSafeBC states that workers do not need to be government-certified to operate a forklift. They do, however, need to be properly trained to the applicable CSA standard and successfully complete the required testing before operating a lift truck. Employers are responsible for making sure their operators meet those requirements.
The terms forklift operator certification and forklift certification are commonly used by employers and training companies to describe successful completion of that training and evaluation process.
So while there may not be a little government office handing out forklift licences, you still can’t just climb aboard because you once drove a tractor at your uncle’s farm.
Training matters.
Onsite forklift training in British Columbia means the training takes place at your workplace instead of at a separate training facility.
That allows the course to be built around your actual operation.
A warehouse in Surrey may have narrow aisles, racking and heavy pedestrian traffic. A lumber yard may involve long loads and uneven outdoor surfaces. A manufacturing facility in Abbotsford might have tight production areas, blind corners and very specific traffic routes.
Same basic forklift principles. Very different workplaces.
That’s one of the biggest advantages of forklift training at your workplace: operators learn how safety applies to the environment they’re going to work in after the trainer leaves.
Regulations also emphasize supervised, hands-on training for workers using machinery and equipment rather than relying only on instructions or classroom information.
Before training begins, the trainer needs to know what equipment the operators actually use.
A sit-down counterbalance forklift doesn’t operate the same way as a narrow aisle reach truck. An order picker presents different hazards again. Powered pallet jacks, walkies and rough terrain forklifts also require equipment-specific knowledge and practical skills.
The trainer should also be advised whether the employees are new operators or experienced operators completing forklift recertification in BC.
That helps determine how much practical instruction and coaching each person may need.
Experience helps, but “I’ve been driving one for 20 years” isn’t technically a training program.
This is where onsite training becomes especially useful.
Before operators start driving, the work area should be looked at from a safety perspective.
Are there blind corners? Pedestrian walkways? Loading docks? Ramps? Tight aisles? Low doorways? Busy intersections? Unusual loads?
These are the things operators will encounter after training, so they should be part of the conversation during training.
A forklift operator needs to understand more than how to move the controls. They also need to recognize hazards and make good decisions around the people and equipment sharing the workplace.
Every operator needs the knowledge behind the machine.
Good lift truck training explains not only what operators should do, but why they should do it.
Theory typically covers forklift stability, load centres, capacity, data plates, pre-use inspections, pedestrian safety, visibility, travelling with loads, ramps, safe parking, workplace hazards and other fundamental operating principles.
This portion is important for new operators, but it’s also valuable during recertification.
Experienced operators sometimes develop shortcuts.
Most shortcuts start out as “I’ve done it this way forever.”
That’s not necessarily a selling point.
Once the theory portion is complete, operators need to demonstrate that they understand the information.
The knowledge test covers the safety principles discussed during training and helps confirm that the operator understands how to make safe decisions before moving into the practical portion.
WorkSafeBC requires training and testing that meets the applicable performance criteria before an employee is assigned work as a lift truck operator.
Passing the knowledge portion is important, but it’s only part of the process.
You can know every answer on paper and still need practice behind the controls.
Now we get to the part most operators have been waiting for.
The forklift.
Hands-on training gives operators the opportunity to practise what they’ve learned while being supervised and coached by the trainer.
With onsite forklift training, that practical portion happens on the equipment they use at work.
Depending on the forklift and workplace, training can include pre-use inspections, start-up procedures, steering and control, travelling with and without loads, maintaining visibility, stacking and unstacking, picking and placing loads, operating around pedestrians, working near blind corners and safely shutting down and parking the equipment.
This is also where small habits become very noticeable.
Turning too quickly, travelling with the forks too high, forgetting the horn at a blind intersection or rushing a load placement may feel minor to an operator who has done it a thousand times.
A trainer gets to be the person who says, “Let’s fix that.”
Sometimes repeatedly.
Practice and evaluation are two different things.
During training, the operator is learning, practising and receiving coaching.
During the practical evaluation, the operator demonstrates that they can safely operate the forklift.
The evaluator is looking at the complete process: inspection, start-up, control of the machine, observation, pedestrian awareness, travelling, load handling, stacking, parking and shutdown.
This practical component is especially important because forklift operation is a physical skill.
You can’t demonstrate safe forklift operation with a multiple-choice answer alone.
Once the operator has successfully completed the required training and evaluation, the employer should have clear documentation of that training.
Training companies commonly provide documentation and an operator card as proof that the individual successfully completed the program.
At Rob’s Forklift Training, successful operators receive documentation of their training and evaluation so employers have a record of what equipment was covered and when the training was completed.
Forklift training isn’t necessarily a once-and-done event.
WorkSafeBC’s guidance referencing CSA B335 states that lift truck operators must receive refresher training within a period not exceeding three years. Additional training may also be needed sooner following an operator-related incident, when performance concerns are identified or when an operator’s equipment or work changes significantly.
That makes forklift recertification training an opportunity to do more than simply renew a card.
It’s a chance to catch habits that have developed over time, review important safety principles and make sure the operator is still comfortable and competent on the equipment.
For many businesses, the biggest advantage is relevance.
Operators aren’t learning in an imaginary warehouse. They’re learning in their warehouse.
Onsite training allows the instructor to discuss the exact areas employees will be working in and observe them operating the same equipment they’ll use after training.
It can also be practical for businesses with several employees because the trainer comes to the team rather than the team travelling to a training facility.
Some of the biggest advantages include:
That’s what makes onsite forklift training for employees different from generic instruction.
The safety principles stay the same, but the training becomes much more relevant to the job.
Yes. Onsite forklift training can be completed at an employer’s workplace provided suitable equipment and a safe area are available for the training and practical evaluation. Rob’s Forklift Training provides onsite forklift training throughout British Columbia.
Depending on the workplace and training program, onsite training can include sit-down counterbalance forklifts, narrow aisle reach trucks, order pickers, powered pallet jacks and rough terrain forklifts.
Yes. Forklift operator training in British Columbia includes a practical, hands-on component. WorkSafeBC’s guidance states that classroom theory is followed by practical demonstration and supervised practice. Operators must also demonstrate their ability to safely operate the lift truck through an operational test. Theory or online instruction alone does not demonstrate practical operating proficiency.
There isn’t one set time for every group. The length depends on the number of operators, their experience, the type of forklift, how many equipment classes are being covered and how much practical training each operator needs.
New operators generally require more instruction and practice than experienced operators completing refresher training.
Refresher training is required within a period not exceeding three years under the CSA requirements referenced by WorkSafeBC. Retraining may be needed sooner in certain circumstances, including operator-related incidents or performance concerns.
Good forklift training isn’t about giving someone a card and sending them on their way.
It’s about making sure the operator understands the equipment, knows the safety principles and can demonstrate those skills when they’re actually behind the controls.
At Rob’s Forklift Training, we provide practical onsite forklift training in British Columbia, working with employers to train operators on the equipment and in the environments they use every day.
Whether you need new operator training, forklift operator certification, or forklift recertification for experienced employees, bringing the training onsite makes it relevant to the work your team actually does.
Your equipment. Your workplace. Real forklift training.