Those seeking more governmental involvement in forklift training should keep their eyes on the activities currently being undertaken in Australia.

Australia is currently switching to a national forklift operator driver license system. The certificate of competency system and the mixed training requirements previously used by the OSH state and territory agencies are being changed to a Vocational Education and Training (VET) based system. Under the VET based system, the Department of Education and Training (DET) will be responsible for guiding forklift training within Australia.

The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) has established standards for trainers who must be registered and approved (registered training organisation*/RTO); has established standards for state and territory course registering/accrediting bodies; has established tools to audit forklift training; requires the use of approved course materials and defines minimum course content; has established testing tools and other things to ensure a national uniform training system for forklift operators.

National implementation is currently behind schedule. Queensland, Australia, however, has started their pilot program.

I'm not sure of the required hours of training for inexperienced operators. Queensland RTO's are currently listing 3 day and 4 day courses for such training.

Forklift drivers who pass the course and usually meet the minimum of 40 hours of supervised forklift operation will be issued a national forklift operator drivers license (for a license fee). The license has a picture id and is valid for 5 years. It is valid in all of the Australian states and territories.

The unique thing about this training is that it requires the forklift operator to obtain a license. The OSH regulations dictate that an employer cannot allow a person to operate a forklift without a valid license. In effect, the employer does not have to pay for the basic forklift training unless it desires to do so.

Employers are required under OSH regulations to give forklift operators any additional safety training required beyond basic safe operation given under the national licensing system. This includes such things as hazards and safe operation in cold storage, hazards and safe operation in confined spaces, dock safety, manufacturers operating recommendations and safety warnings for the type of forklift(s) operated, how to perform pre/post checks on the actual equipment used, etc.

This new national forklift training system is similar in many respects to the U.S. and Canadian Commercial Drivers License (CDL) systems. Maybe we should define all forklifts in the U.S. and Canada as regulated motor vehicles and turn the basic forklift operator training over to the Departments of Motor Vehicles or Transport Canada and establish a national uniform system.

* organisation - Australian spelling of organization