Some Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about a forktruck operating licence, questions about trucks and questions about safety, if you require any other information contact us on 07784 858153 we are here to help and there is no such thing as a daft question!!
(Q) How long does a Forktruck ‘Licence’ last?
(A) Firstly the term ‘Licence’ isn't strictly correct, they are certificates of training which serve as documentary proof that training has been provided for a particular machine or job, as such they do not actually expire but there is a recommendation by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) of refresher training at ‘reasonable intervals’ we and other training organisations recommend that this period should not exceed 3 years but ultimately the decision about when to retrain must rest with the employer as it is they who must ensure under the Health & Safety At Work Act (1974) that ‘adequate information, instruction and training’ is provided for employees. Your insurers may also insist on a specific timescale for refresher training to minimise insured risk.
(Q) My employee was trained ‘In House’ at their last job, is it a proper qualification?
(A) Check the paperwork, certificate, and any other documentary proof that the employee may have, in particular look for RTITB, ITSSAR or other accrediting body name and a name and registration number for the instructor/examiner who ran the course, there is nothing wrong with ‘in house’ qualifications and many companies train this way using their own instructors, these are still nationally recognised qualifications as long as they have been administered by a properly registered instructor/examiner to the correct standard, if in doubt, ask us to check out the registration numbers on the certificate with the relevant accrediting body.
Beware that some ‘In House’ training is not accredited nor has it been delivered to the required standard, someone who’s training consisted of twice round the yard with ‘old Fred the forktruck driver’ has not had acceptable training regardless of how much paperwork they have to support this!!
(Q) One of my employees has driven for years, but doesn't have a certificate, surely they don't have to do a full 5 day course, can't they just do a 1 day re-test?
(A) No, 1 day re-tests can only be carried out if an employee has previously been trained and tested to a recognised standard and has evidence to support this, otherwise a shortened basic training course of 2-3 days is required as although they may be competent drivers they will not have had any of the required theoretical input on stability and safe operating practices.
(Q) Do we need to train people on simple equipment such as Electric Pallet Trucks?
(A) Yes, Health & safety Legislation states that employees must be given ‘adequate training’ on any equipment which has the potential to cause harm to themselves and/or others, therefore even simple equipment such as pallet trucks should only be operated by trained persons and proof of training should exist in the form of a certificate or other documentation, otherwise the employer could find themselves in a sticky situation if for example an untrained employee runs over their own foot or injures a pedestrian while using this equipment.
(Q) What capacity truck can my employees drive? It shows 1500kg on the certificates but we use 2500kg trucks here?
(A) The certificate of training has to show the actual machine that the person took their test on, however this does not necessarily mean that they can only drive that particular make and capacity of truck, for example if a driver was tested on a small Counterbalance Truck of say 1200kgs capacity they can still operate any other Counterbalance truck up to 5000kgs capacity provided that they have been given the necessary familiarisation training for the truck.
There are 3 categories for Counterbalance Trucks, these are B1 up to 5000kgs, B2 5000-15000kgs, and B3 over 15000kgs, so as a further example if the driver has a certificate for a 6000kg Counterbalance they can operate a machine of up to 15000kgs, but again they must have received familiarisation training for any new type of machine which you are expecting them to operate.
(Q) Can a Counterbalance driver use a Reach truck, Can a Reach Truck driver use an Order Picker etc?
(A) No, training and certification is required for each type of machine that a person operates, although the basic safety rules are the same for all powered industrial trucks there are also specific limitations and specialist operating techniques for various machines, so it is important that a driver has received formal training for all types of equipment which they operate, normally a driver who already holds a certificate for a particular machine will need to undertake a short ‘Conversion’ course to operate a different type of machine, remember that under the Heath & Safety At Work Act (1974) an employer must provide ‘adequate training’.
(Q) Is any training required for Fork Lift Truck attachments?
(A) Yes, It is also important to remember that any person using attachments on a forklift truck such as clamps, poles, extension forks, or working platforms will need additional instruction on the correct fitting, checking, and use of these attachments, and this should be formally documented, for example if a person is trained on a machine with forks but is then expected to use a drum clamp or carpet pole they will require additional training to ensure that they can use a clamp or pole competently and safely, working platforms in particular are a source of serious and sometimes fatal accidents and should only be used on a forklift truck when the driver has been trained in the safe fitting and operation of a truck with platform attached, we offer short courses for attachments if required.
A further note on work platforms - HSE guidance note PM28 is available free from the HSE website and gives specific advice on using work platforms attached to forklift trucks, most importantly it states that they should be used for unplanned maintenance only, not scheduled tasks for which purpose designed elevated maintenance equipment should be used.
(Q) Can we use a fork truck to nip up and down the road outside our premises?
(A) This is a grey area and great care must be taken, in broad terms if a forklift truck is being used in the ‘immediate vicinity’ (immediate vicinity is loosely defined as 1000 yards) of your premises for example to load or unload a delivery vehicle then it can be classed in law as a ‘Works Truck’ this means it can be operated on the highway for this purpose but you must register it with DVLA as a ‘Works Truck’ your insurers must also be notified that you are taking your fork lift truck onto the highway in case there is an accident such as a collision between your truck and another vehicle or pedestrian, it must also be in sound condition and fitted with lights if used during the hours of darkness, for more information on this subject you should consult your nearest DVLA office or obtain BITA Guidance Note GN57 – Industrial Trucks On Public Roads, BITA can be contacted on Tel: 01344 623800 or www.bita.org.uk
(Q) Whats the law on seat belts & Fork Trucks?
(A) In 1998 the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) were revised to include provision for operator restraints on any work equipment which by its design could trap the operator through overturning, as a result of this all new Counterbalance and some other types of forklift truck in the UK are now fitted with seat belts or other restraint system as standard, the regulations also required existing equipment to be retro fitted with safety restraints.
(Q) Ok so by law they're fitted but does the operator actually have to use the restraints which are provided?
(A) The PUWER Regulations state clearly that the employer should carry out a thorough risk assessment on the risk of overturning taking into account the area’s in which the truck works and the duties which it carries out, and if a risk of overturning exists then the use of the restraint system should be mandatory, as you can s ee this is likely to lead to a considerable risk assessment operation on large sites with lots of trucks performing lots of tasks so it is far better to simply adopt a company policy of mandatory use of the restraint system unless there is a specific provable reason why wearing or using a restraint system could cause other safety issues for example if rapid evacuation from the machine may be required.
(Q) What medical checks do I need to carry out on my drivers and do you carry out eyesight tests during training?
(A) The medical checks that an employer needs to carry out on employees depends in general on the type of job and conditions that you are expecting them to work in, there is no set medical criteria for forklift truck drivers, so basic medical checks are sometimes sufficient, the advice of a GP should be sought for persons working in adverse conditions such as cold stores or chemical plants, and also for persons suffering from medical conditions such as diabetes or heart problems, likewise an optician should be consulted about the suitability of a person with visual disabilities.
As a training organisation we do not carry out any medical checks on trainees as we are not qualified to do this but we would refer from a training course anyone who has an obvious disability which we feel constitutes a safety risk, we have in the past successfully trained amputees, one eyed people, and persons with other disabilities, our principle is that we will train anyone who is able to competently undertake the course and operate the machine safely, but it would then be up to the employer or potential employer to ensure that they are safe to operate in the actual workplace.
Sources of further information
HSE Telephone Helpline 0845 345 0055
For the cost of a local call, a confidential helpline operated by the Health & Safety Executive, they will advise
you on legal requirements and help you to understand and define various area’s of legislation, don’t be
afraid to ring them, they want to help you to stay within the law and avoid accidents, they don’t want to
know who you are, and won’t try to trace the call or send a factory inspector rushing to your premises!!
HSE Website www.hse.gov.uk
Lots of information and free downloads of many guidance notes
HSE Books Tel 01787 881165
Copies of all regulations, ACOPS, and many other Health & Safety publications can be ordered over the
telephone from HSE Books, listings and information on available publications also available via the HSE
Books link from the main www.hse.gov.uk website.