About this course
Pallet jacks are among the most commonly used pieces of material handling equipment in food manufacturing and distribution, and they cause a steady stream of foot, hand, and back injuries when operators aren't properly trained. This course covers safe operating practices for both manual pallet jacks and powered (electric) pallet jacks.
OSHA classifies powered pallet jacks as Class III powered industrial trucks under 29 CFR 1910.178, which means operators must complete formal instruction, hands-on training, and a performance evaluation before operating one unsupervised, with a documented refresher or re-evaluation at least every three years or after certain incidents. Manual pallet jacks are not covered by 1910.178, so OSHA does not mandate formal certification for them — but employers still have a General Duty Clause obligation to train employees on safe use, since manual units remain a leading cause of foot and back injuries in warehouse and production environments.
This course is intended for any employee who operates a pallet jack, manual or powered, as part of loading, staging, or moving product. Powered pallet jack operators need the full 1910.178-aligned training and evaluation; this course provides the knowledge component, which should be paired with hands-on, facility-specific practical training and evaluation.
After completing this course, learners will be able to conduct a pre-operation inspection, maneuver a pallet jack safely around pedestrians and blind corners, load and position pallets correctly, and identify the key differences between manual and powered pallet jack hazards.
Topics covered
- Pre-operation inspection and defect reporting
- Safe maneuvering, speed, and load stability
- Pedestrian awareness and blind-corner practices
- OSHA's Class III powered industrial truck training and evaluation requirements
- Differences between manual and powered pallet jack hazards
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