Final answer:
The employer is responsible for the certification of a worker qualified to drive a forklift, following OSHA's requirements, which include formal instruction, practical training, and an evaluation. Such certification must be maintained and renewed as per OSHA guidelines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual or company responsible for certifying that a worker is qualified to drive a forklift is typically the employer. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires that forklift operators must be trained and certified by their employer to ensure that they understand how to operate a forklift safely. The certification process involves a combination of formal instruction, practical training, and an evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.
Employers must maintain records of the training and certification for each operator, which must be renewed at least every three years or whenever the operator has been observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner, has been involved in an accident or near-miss, or when there are changes in the workplace or type of forklift used that could affect safe operation.