Top 7 Tips for Effective Onsite Forklift Training

When it comes to operating forklifts, real safety starts with real training. At VIF Safety Training, we know that onsite forklift instruction isn’t just about ticking a compliance box—it’s about reducing risk, protecting workers, and helping employers meet their responsibilities under WorkSafeBC regulations.

Whether you’re in Campbell River, Nanaimo, or focusing specifically on onsite forklift training in Victoria, these practical tips will help you get the most out of your training session and stay aligned with British Columbia’s safety standards.

Here are seven tips based on our experience delivering compliant, hands-on training throughout BC.

1. Know the WorkSafeBC Requirements

WorkSafeBC makes it clear: “A person must not operate mobile equipment unless the person has received adequate instruction in the safe use of the equipment.” This is outlined in OHS Section 16: Mobile Equipment.

As of September 1, 2021, all training must also meet CSA Standard B335-15. Employers should schedule refresher training every 3 years to stay compliant.

Understanding these baseline requirements is essential before any training begins. It ensures your team receives training that isn’t just good—it’s legally valid.

2. Choose a Certified Instructor

At VIF Safety Training, our lead instructor Darrell Block brings years of real-world mobile equipment experience to every session. He’s an Ives Certified Trainer, a former instructor at North Island College, and a Red Seal Industrial Electrician.

His background includes roles like Electrical Shop Supervisor, Maintenance Manager, and Lockout Coordinator, and he also served 8 years in the Royal Canadian Navy. In short, you’re learning from someone who knows both the practical and regulatory side of equipment safety.

Choosing a certified, experienced instructor ensures that trainees gain both knowledge and confidence in the equipment they’ll use every day.

3. Keep Training Onsite Whenever Possible

Onsite training isn’t just convenient—it’s more effective.

When we train at your Victoria-based workplace, operators learn in the exact environment where they’ll be working. That means better retention, more relevant questions, and fewer surprises on the job.

It also helps supervisors identify location-specific hazards that might not come up in offsite sessions. Onsite training makes safety real and immediate.

4. Cover All Relevant Equipment Types

If your team uses more than just a standard forklift, your training should reflect that.

At VIF Safety Training, we offer onsite instruction for a wide range of equipment, including:

  • Forklifts (Counterbalance)
  • Telehandlers
  • Scissor Lifts
  • Boom Lifts
  • Powered Pallet Jacks

We also offer training in:

  • Fall Protection
  • Confined Space Awareness
  • Lockout/Tagout
  • Overhead Crane Basic Rigging
  • Mini Excavator Operation
  • Class 5 Trailering and Load Securement

All of this can be delivered onsite, making it easy to keep your full team up to date in one coordinated session.

5. Train Supervisors Alongside Operators

WorkSafeBC doesn’t just require operators to be trained. Employers are also responsible for supervising and ensuring compliance on an ongoing basis.

That’s why it’s a smart move to include your supervisors in the training process. Even if they’re not operating equipment directly, understanding the standards helps them recognize unsafe behavior and correct it before it leads to injury or damage.

At VIF Safety Training, we emphasize not just how to operate equipment, but how to maintain a culture of safety in the workplace.

6. Focus on Practical Skills, Not Just Theory

Safety rules matter, but so does muscle memory. That’s why all onsite forklift training sessions in Victoria include hands-on components where operators actually drive, maneuver, and load equipment under supervision.

Our training includes:

  • Safe operation procedures
  • Equipment inspection steps
  • Hazard awareness
  • Load handling techniques

This practical focus helps workers internalize correct habits and makes it easier to spot and correct unsafe behavior down the line.

7. Schedule Refresher Training Every 3 Years

WorkSafeBC recommends refresher training every three years, and CSA B335-15 supports this timeline. Even experienced operators can develop unsafe habits over time.

Refresher sessions help reinforce proper techniques, introduce any updated regulations, and ensure documentation remains current.

At VIF Safety Training, we make it easy to keep your team compliant by offering onsite refresher courses tailored to your schedule and needs.

Conclusion

Forklift safety starts with the right training, delivered by people who know the work and care about doing it right. With certified instruction, a real-world focus, and full alignment with WorkSafeBC and CSA standards, VIF Safety Training provides onsite forklift training in Victoria that keeps your team sharp and your business safe.

Ready to book your onsite forklift training? Call VIF Safety Training today at 250-889-2074 or visit our website to get started.

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