Forklift and Industrial Truck Program
Operator certification, pre-shift inspection, pedestrian safety, and refueling.
What this document is
This document is a written safety program that satisfies federal and California requirements for powered industrial trucks. It gives contractors the policies, procedures, and forms needed to keep operators and workers safe around forklifts and similar equipment.
The regulation that requires it
29 CFR 1910.178 contains OSHA's Powered Industrial Trucks standard. The rule requires employers to certify that operators have been trained and evaluated, to conduct daily pre-shift inspections, to separate pedestrians from vehicle traffic, and to follow safe refueling and battery charging practices. California adopts and enforces these requirements through Title 8 CCR Section 3650 et seq., which mirrors the federal standard with some additional state-specific elements.
Who needs it
General contractors, subcontractors, warehouses, and any California employer who operates forklifts, stand-up riders, or other powered industrial trucks must maintain this program. Construction trades that move materials on job sites are especially affected. While the federal rule applies nationwide, California contractors face Cal/OSHA enforcement of both the federal language and Title 8 requirements.
What happens without it
OSHA and Cal/OSHA cite employers for missing or incomplete powered industrial truck programs under 29 CFR 1910.178. Serious violations currently carry penalties up to $16,131 per violation, while willful or repeated violations can reach $161,323. Inspections frequently examine operator certification records and pedestrian safety practices. Multi-employer worksites can result in citations to both the forklift owner and the controlling contractor.
What's included in the generated document
- Operator training and certification policy
- Daily pre-shift inspection checklist and procedure
- Pedestrian safety and traffic control rules
- Safe refueling, battery charging, and maintenance guidelines
- Recordkeeping and program review requirements
How to implement it at your company
- Talk to Guy first. Describe your operation, trade, and location — Guy draws from 300,000+ verified OSHA and state regulatory citations to build a compliance plan specific to your company. Your answers shape every section of the document you receive. Takes about 10 minutes.
- Download the PDF and edit the company name, dates, and responsible person sections to match your operations.
- Review the document with your safety committee or supervisors and make any site-specific additions.
- Train all forklift operators using the certification forms and keep records of training and evaluations.
- Post the program where workers can access it and distribute copies to supervisors.
- Schedule annual program reviews and update the document when equipment, personnel, or work conditions change.