In the UK, forklift training is essential for safe and compliant operations. Anyone using this equipment must receive training to ensure they can operate it safely and apply best practice consistently.
But what training is needed for beginners? What if an operator is experienced but uncertificated? Is refresher training required over time? The below guide explains it all…
Getting the right course for your candidate
From complete beginners to the most experienced operators, accrediting bodies for workplace transport training outline what is required in each scenario to ensure everyone’s suitably covered. Providers delivering these accredited courses, like Mentor, therefore offer assurance that training will be aligned to the Approved Code of Practice L117 (the definitive guide to forklift training and safe use), for compliance.
To find the right course for your delegates, we’ll always confirm whether they have any prior experience in operating the equipment. This enables us to provide the right depth of training to suitably meet their needs, and issue them with certification to the appropriate level, in line with accredited standards.
To help you understand the different levels, let’s break down each scenario:
Novice Forklift Training
Novice training is essentially forklift training for beginners. This will award an operator with the basic skills and knowledge required to operate a lift truck safely and efficiently.
Operators with no prior experience must complete this level of training before being permitted to operate on your site. And remember, in accordance with L117, individuals may only operate the specific equipment for which they have been properly trained, so one forklift training course does not cover them for all truck types (see ‘Conversion Training’ below).
Experienced Forklift Training
As per L117, “Operators with some experience of lift trucks or relevant experience of similar vehicles may need less extensive training than those with no experience.”
If an individual has experience of operating a lift truck but has never been formally trained or certified, an ‘Experienced’ level course, of shorter duration, may be suitable.
This provides important confirmation of standards, as prior training on the job may have offered the basics, but this course ensures that all essential areas are covered to the required level, in line with the latest industry requirements.
Refresher Forklift Training
Once the initial course is complete, don’t mistake this for the end of the training process. It’s important to ensure that best practice stays front of mind to maintain a safe working environment in the long term. Refresher training for certified operators ensures that their skills remain up to standard, and any bad habits are addressed.
There is no specified forklift refresher training interval set out by law, but the general industry recommendation is every three to five years. Choosing the right frequency requires a thorough risk assessment of your unique operations.
Conversion Training
Referring back to L117, “An operator with basic training on one type of lift truck or handling attachment cannot safely operate others, on which they have not been trained, without additional conversion training.”
Forklift conversion training courses allow operators who are certified on a particular truck to operate another without completing a full novice course. Instead, they undergo a more concise programme, focussing on the differences between the two trucks.
Trained, experienced operators can convert from Counterbalance or Reach trucks to almost any other form of lift truck. Where suitable, accredited conversion courses provide great benefits for businesses, offering reduced course lengths and total costs, while ensuring vital standards are maintained for safety and compliance.
Whatever the experience level of your operators, Mentor provides the training they need to support safe, efficient operations.
Now you have an understanding of your basic training requirements, don’t forget the other two essential stages.
If you have any questions on the right type of forklift training for your team, contact us here or call 01246 555222 to speak with a dedicated member of our team today.