Front-end loaders play a key role in moving materials and clearing worksites. However, they also cause thousands of injuries and significant property damage each year. To reduce risk and ensure safety, federal law mandates proper instruction for new operators.
Build valuable new skills and earn a heavy equipment certification with this online safety course. Meet training requirements or prepare for a promotion or better job by becoming a certified front-end loader operator.
Front-End Loader Training Course Details
Benefits of Safety Training for Front-End Loader Operations
Benefits of this training course include:
- Instant Certificate Download
- Job-Focused Video Lessons and Activities
- 100% Exam Pass Rate
- Simple, Powerful Tools for Workers and Managers
- Bulk Discounts Available
Who Needs Heavy Equipment Operator Training?
Workers must be properly trained and competent to operate heavy equipment before using machines like front-end loaders.
These earthmovers are used for all kinds of important construction jobs, including:
- Site clearing
- Lot grading
- Cleanup and debris removal
- Road construction and repair
- Utility work
- Material handling and hauling
- Landscaping
- Trenching and excavating
- Snow removal
- And more
This course will help you satisfy job requirements and earn your certification so you can take the next step in your construction career.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, you will:
- Understand how a front-end loader works and what it can be used to accomplish.
- Know how to stabilize equipment before and during operation.
- Recognize the various hazards operators and other workers can encounter.
- Understand how to avoid those hazards to keep yourself and your coworkers safe.
- Know how to prepare yourself, your jobsite and your vehicle.
- Understand how to safely operate a loader.
- Be able to describe shutdown procedures and when to use them.
- Know how to safely act as a spotter for another user while the machine is moving.
Testing Requirements
This course includes two 10-question exams that you must pass with a score of at least 80%. You may attempt each test as many times as you want, so you are guaranteed to pass.
Each lesson ends with a short quiz you must pass to move on to the next chapter. Just like the tests, these quizzes allow an unlimited number of attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are OSHA front-end loader standards found?
Construction equipment operation regulations can be found in 29 CFR 1926 — OSHA's construction standard. Front-end loaders are among the types of heavy earthmoving equipment defined in 1926.602(a).
Common standards for earthmoving machinery operation include:
- 29 CFR 1926.600 — General standards for equipment operation and safety
- 29 CFR 1926.601 — Motor vehicles used in construction
- 29 CFR 1926.602 — Requirements for earthmoving equipment
- 29 CFR 1926.602(a) — Material handling and earthmoving equipment
- 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) — Employee education for job-specific hazards
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App B — Sloping and benching
- 29 CFR 1926.1402 — Ground conditions
- 29 CFR 1926.1408 — Power line safety
- 29 CFR 1926.1412 — Inspection procedures
- 29 CFR 1910.145(d)(10) — Standards related to slow-moving vehicles
- General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) — Directs employers to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards
Is this an OSHA-approved training program?
OSHA does not approve training programs or offer formal earthmover licenses. However, the administration sets front-end loader operator training and certification requirements in 29 CFR 1926.
This course aligns with OSHA regulations and training options for front-end loader operation and meets educational standards for heavy equipment operators. Students who complete this course learn the safety awareness and operating skills necessary to confidently operate a loader on a construction jobsite.
Does this online course provide a certificate?
Yes. After completing all lesson modules and passing all quizzes and exams, you will be able to immediately download and print a digital Certificate of Completion and a wallet-sized certification card.
How long is heavy equipment certification valid?
Your front-end loader training certificate has no expiration date. Certified operators are encouraged to repeat this course every three years to refresh their skills, keep up with legal changes and stay current on industry best practices.
Training is required by law in certain situations, including:
- Before starting a job working with heavy equipment
- After an accident or near-miss
- After being observed using the machine in an unsafe manner
- Following a major change to job duties, conditions or the type of assigned equipment
How long does it take to finish this course?
The material can be completed in under two hours. It includes about 90 minutes of content, featuring real-world scenarios and instructional videos designed for maximum clarity.
Can I purchase online heavy equipment courses for my team?
Yes! We make it simple to manage employee training for teams of any size. From our user-friendly administrator dashboard, you can quickly and easily buy, assign and track as many courses as you need. Bulk discounts keep employee education affordable.
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