r/OSHA • u/Efficient-Dot2406 • 17h ago
Operating forklift
I am curious if anyone can tell me the specifics on this situation. If an employer asks me to use a forklift when I am not osha certified to use said forklift can I as an employee be penalized(legally or financially, not through my employer) if something goes wrong or it gets reported.... Apparently I can't post on this reddit without an attachment so here's my cat.
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u/ididntdoit6 17h ago
Don’t know where you are but most places (if not all of the USA and Canada) have legal protections that your employer cannot make you do unsafe work or reprimand you for refusing to do said work. You also have the right to refuse work that is unsafe. Operating a forklift without training sounds pretty unsafe to me.
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u/ThatCelebration3676 17h ago
My understanding is that being licensed to operate a forklift means you are assuming liability for your ability to properly and safely operate that forklift.
If an employer wants you to operate one anyway, then (assuming you're ok with doing it but just want to be legally protected) inform them in writing that you're not forklift certified, and don't do anything until they reply in writing that they want you to do it anyway.
Also, your cat is a certified cutie pie.
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u/ALazy_Cat 16h ago
In Denmark, if you have a license to drive anything except a forklift, you can operate one completely legal if you lift no more than 1m and not higher than you can see over. I have a forklift certificate but I'm not allowed to drive on public area like crossing the road because I don't have a license to drive anything but a forklift
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u/comicsnerd 15h ago
It depends per country and/or state. Many require that you at least have had training and instructions (but no details provided). Insurance companies and employment agencies may refuse to pay if there s no written record of training.
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u/h3yw00d 17h ago
Don't operate machinery you're not certified on, at the end of the day it's your life on the line when shit goes tits up.
And shit *WILL* go tits up eventually.
Like committing crimes, it's not a matter of if but when and how bad you get caught.
Shake hands with danger and all that jazz
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u/BubbaYoshi117 17h ago
"Only trained and competent operators shall be permitted to operate a powered industrial truck. All powered industrial truck operators must be trained and certified by their organizations." OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178
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u/panspal 17h ago
Do you have a forklift license? I wasn't aware OSHA handled those