1910.178(l)(2)(i): Forklift Trainee Operation
Employers may let forklift trainees operate a powered industrial truck only under the direct supervision of people with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate competence, and only where it does not endanger the trainee or other employees.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(l)(2)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 25 times in the last 3 years, in 25 inspections, with $145,259 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (3), OH (3), OR (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)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 2 sub-paragraphs. 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
(i) Trainees may operate a powered industrial truck only: 25 citations
(A) Under the direct supervision of persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence; and Open (l)(2)(i)(a) 17 citations
(B) Where such operation does not endanger the trainee or other employees. 6 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)(i).
At 2:00 p.m. on June 6, 2024, an employee working as a laborer for a tire warehouse was operating a forklift (PIV). The employee was using the PIV to access palletized solid-core forklift tires on the third tier of a 4-tier rack storage system. While…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: TX (3), OH (3), OR (2), MO (2), FL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP, INC. | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $16,131 |
| ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. | SOLON, OH | $12,000 |
| KLEM TRACTOR, INCORPORATED | SPENCER, MA | $11,292 |
| NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS LLC | NEW CONCORD, OH | $9,218 |
| ZTEX CONSTRUCTION, INC. | EL PASO, TX | $9,045 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(l)(2)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
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
Can a trainee drive a forklift?
Only under direct supervision of a qualified trainer and where it does not endanger anyone.
Who can supervise trainees?
Persons with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence.
Where may trainees practice?
Only where operation does not endanger the trainee or other employees.
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.