Forklifts & Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP) Training

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Bodies and Safety Standards

Identifies national and international agencies that govern forklift and MEWP operation. Explains how standards translate into workplace compliance obligations.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Powered Industrial Trucks

Defines forklifts and MEWPs within the broader materials-handling industry. Connects equipment categories to real-world applications across warehousing, construction, and manufacturing.

Lesson 3 • Workplace Safety Culture

Explores how organizational culture influences accident rates and compliance. Learners connect individual behavior to site-wide safety outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Attachments and Accessories

Surveys common forklift attachments such as clamps, rotators, and side-shifters. Learners assess how each attachment alters stability and capacity.

Lesson 2 • Key Mechanical Components

Identifies mast, carriage, forks, tires, and hydraulic systems as core functional parts. Understanding components enables accurate inspection and fault identification.

Lesson 3 • Data Plates and Load Capacity

Teaches operators to read manufacturer data plates and calculate safe load limits. Misreading capacity data is a leading cause of tip-over incidents.

Lesson 1 • Power Sources and Drive Systems

Compares electric, diesel, and hybrid MEWP power systems and their site suitability. Learners select appropriate power sources based on indoor/outdoor and surface conditions.

Lesson 2 • Load Ratings and Platform Capacity

Explains rated platform capacity, occupant limits, and tool load calculations. Overloading platforms is a primary cause of structural failure and falls.

Lesson 3 • MEWP Structural Components

Identifies platform, boom, turntable, outriggers, and control systems as critical structural elements. Component knowledge supports accurate pre-use inspection.

Lesson 1 • Forklift Inspection Checklist Procedures

Walks through a structured forklift inspection covering fluid levels, forks, mast, tires, and controls. Each checkpoint is linked to a specific failure mode and safety risk.

Lesson 2 • Defect Identification and Out-of-Service Criteria

Defines critical vs. non-critical defects and the threshold for removing equipment from service. Learners apply decision-making frameworks to real defect scenarios.

Lesson 3 • MEWP Inspection Checklist Procedures

Covers ground-level and platform-level inspection steps specific to MEWPs. Learners identify boom, platform, outrigger, and control defects before operation.

Lesson 1 • Safe Load Handling Techniques

Applies stability principles to picking, transporting, and placing loads correctly. Proper technique reduces tip-over risk and product damage simultaneously.

Lesson 2 • Stability Triangle and Center of Gravity

Introduces the three-point stability triangle and how load position shifts the center of gravity. This foundational concept underpins all safe load-handling decisions.

Lesson 3 • Dynamic Forces During Operation

Examines how acceleration, braking, turning, and ramp travel generate forces that affect stability. Learners predict and mitigate instability before it occurs.

Lesson 1 • Forklift Operating Procedures

Covers mounting, starting, traveling, and parking procedures for forklifts. Each step is linked to a specific hazard it prevents in real warehouse and yard environments.

Lesson 2 • Ramps, Docks, and Elevated Surfaces

Covers specialized procedures for ramp travel, loading dock operations, and elevated platform edges. These environments present heightened tip-over and fall-through risks.

Lesson 3 • Working in Confined and Restricted Spaces

Addresses the additional hazards of operating forklifts and MEWPs in tight or enclosed environments. Learners apply modified procedures for low-clearance and ventilation-limited areas.

Lesson 4 • MEWP Operating Procedures

Details setup, elevation, repositioning, and descent procedures for MEWPs. Correct sequencing prevents falls, tip-overs, and entrapment during aerial work.

Lesson 1 • Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Covers harness selection, inspection, donning, and anchor point connection for MEWP operations. Correct PFAS use is a regulatory requirement for boom-type MEWPs.

Lesson 2 • Forklift Tip-Over Response

Teaches the correct brace-and-hold response when a forklift tip-over is unavoidable. Jumping from a tipping forklift is the leading cause of operator fatality.

Lesson 3 • Emergency Lowering and Rescue Procedures

Trains operators and ground personnel to activate emergency lowering systems and execute platform rescues. Delayed rescue after a fall arrest can cause suspension trauma.

Lesson 1 • Operator Record Management

Covers the creation, storage, and audit of operator training records. Accurate records protect both operators and employers during regulatory inspections.

Lesson 2 • Recertification and Refresher Training

Defines recertification intervals and the triggers that require immediate refresher training. Learners identify events such as accidents and observed unsafe acts as mandatory retraining triggers.

Lesson 3 • Certification Requirements and Evaluation

Outlines the formal and practical components of operator certification for forklifts and MEWPs. Evaluation criteria are directly tied to the competencies developed in prior chapters.

Lesson 4 • Site-Specific Authorization

Explains that certification alone does not authorize operation on every site or with every equipment type. Site-specific familiarization is a separate mandatory step.