1910.178(l)(2)(iii): Qualified Forklift Trainers and Evaluators
All powered industrial truck (forklift) operator training and evaluation must be done by people who have the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and judge their competence.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $31,434 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (2), KY (2), WI (2).
- Related part: 1910.178(l) (5,743 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) is one requirement inside 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(iii) All operator training and evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence. 13 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(l)(2)(iii).
At 1:00 p.m. on February 21, 2025, employees were unloading palletized granite slabs from the back of a truck using a forklift. The granite slabs began to lean, and three employees attempted to correct the hazard. The slabs then fell, pinning one employee between the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: IL (2), KY (2), WI (2), NJ (1), KS (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| YUEJIE INC. | FRANKLIN PARK, IL | $8,000 |
| WISE FOODS | MOONACHIE, NJ | $6,176 |
| OLD WORLD GRANITE AND STONE LLC | PILOT POINT, TX | $4,965 |
| BERTRAM COMMUNICATIONS, LLC | RANDOM LAKE, WI | $3,800 |
| 69117 - WEBASTO ROOF SYSTEMS INC | LEXINGTON, KY | $3,780 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(l)(2)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Requirements of Powered Industrial Truck Training Program Implementation (2025-04-01)
- Powered Industrial Truck (forklift) operator trainer qualifications. (2003-07-23)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.178(l) 5,743 citations
- 1910.178(l)(1) Safe operation 2,028 citations
- 1910.178(l)(1)(i) 1,505 citations
- 1910.178(l)(6) Certification 1,445 citations
- 1910.178(l)(4) Refresher training and evaluation 1,345 citations
- 1910.178(l)(4)(iii) 1,126 citations
- 1910.178(l)(2) Training program implementation 505 citations
- 1910.178(l)(1)(ii) 504 citations
- 1910.178(l)(2)(ii) 437 citations
- 1910.178(l)(3) Training program content 196 citations
- 1910.178(l)(4)(ii) 168 citations
- 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(B) 104 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who can train forklift operators?
Persons who have the knowledge, training and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.
Does this cover evaluations too?
Yes. Both operator training and evaluation must be done by such persons.
Can any experienced driver train a new operator?
Only if that person has the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.178 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.