OSHA Lift Certification

There is no formal licensing process for lift operators under Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, standards. However, there are guidelines that lift operators must follow in order to be considered "certified" as a safe operator under OSHA guidelines.

Baskets

• Lift baskets, such as those found on cherry picker trucks, cannot exceed load limits specified by their manufacturers, and anyone within a basket must keep both feet firmly on its floor while it is being used.

Testing

• A lift of any kind must be tested daily before use to ensure that it is operating in a safe working condition.

Brakes

• A mobile lift requires external brakes and outriggers firmly planted to ensure that the lift will not move while it is being used.

Employer Responsibilities

• Employers are required to inform anyone operating a lift at a place of employment as to any necessary safety requirements beyond those required by OSHA or the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. A lift of any kind may be operated only by those who are authorized to do so by their employer or the owner of the lift device.