1910.178(l)(6): Forklift training certification
The employer must certify that each forklift operator has been trained and evaluated. The certification must include the operator's name, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and who performed the training or evaluation.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(l)(6) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 1,445 times in the last 3 years, in 1,445 inspections, with $810,752 in current penalties.
- 17 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (165), OR (131), IL (101).
- 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)(6) ("Certification") 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
(6) Certification. The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation. 1,445 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Injuries linked to this rule
17 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.178(l)(6).
An employee was fabricating a part for an agricultural wagon using a drill presswhen it fell onto his head, causing multiple fatal injuries to the employee.
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 | 86 |
| 2024 | 572 |
| 2025 | 479 |
| 2026 | 308 |
Top states: MD (165), OR (131), IL (101), FL (96), MI (84)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO BEVERAGE SYSTEMS, L.L.C. | CHICAGO, IL | $16,550 |
| ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES GROUP, LLC | BAYTOWN, TX | $14,188 |
| MCLANE FOODSERVICE, INC. | ORLANDO, FL | $11,823 |
| PET FOOD EXPERTS, LLC | CUMBERLAND, RI | $11,585 |
| CAPA- RIO VALLEY PIPE | PENITAS, TX | $11,292 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(l)(6), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.178(l)(6).
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)(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
- 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
What goes on a forklift training certificate?
The operator's name, the date of training, the date of evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) who did the training or evaluation.
Is a wallet card required?
The rule requires the employer's certification with the listed information. It does not require a particular format.
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.