1910.178(l)(4)(iii): Forklift Operator Evaluation Every Three Years
Employers must evaluate the performance of each powered industrial truck operator, such as a forklift driver, at least once every three years. This regular check confirms each operator still runs the truck safely, even when no accident or problem has happened.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(l)(4)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 1,126 times in the last 3 years, in 1,126 inspections, with $1,607,159 in current penalties.
- 11 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (146), OR (80), NJ (62).
- 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)(4)(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) An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years. 1,126 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
11 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(l)(4)(iii).
At 6:30 a.m. on October 28, 2024, an employee working for a fabricated metal products manufacturer was operating a forklift (PIV) to move a pallet of empty boxes. As the employee backed up the PIV, it fell off the edge of a 10-inch dropin pavement…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 64 |
| 2024 | 429 |
| 2025 | 402 |
| 2026 | 231 |
Top states: MN (146), OR (80), NJ (62), FL (60), CT (57)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TRADER JOE'S COMPANY | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $85,000 |
| TRADER JOE'S | MEDIA, PA | $76,054 |
| ROOSEVELT PAPER COMPANY | ALSIP, IL | $21,279 |
| H-E-B, LP | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $16,550 |
| UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE | NEW CASTLE, DE | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(l)(4)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.178(l)(4)(iii).
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)(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
- 1910.178(l)(3)(i) 92 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
How often must forklift operators be evaluated?
At least once every three years.
Can the evaluation be done more often?
Yes. Three years is the longest allowed time between evaluations.
Is this the same as refresher training?
No. Refresher training is also required when an operator has an accident or near miss, is seen driving unsafely, gets a poor evaluation, or is assigned a different truck or the workplace changes.
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.