Is forklift refresher training a legal requirement?

Regular training helps to keep your forklift operators and drivers safe. Regular training also shows operators are more productive in their roles that untrained colleagues. Refresher forklift training also help prevent accidents through complacency and bad habits that can arise in an untrained workforce. This can be worse in large organisations with tighter margins, holding operators to time constraints and targets that are difficult to hit.

Unsafe practices can also lead to heavy fines, damage and disruption as well as serious injury or even prosecution. Stopping unsafe practices through forklift refresher training is one of the best ways to reduce the chances of accidents and keep your workplace safe, efficient and compliant.

Forklift refresher training is recommended where operators:

• completed their previous training 3-5 years ago
• have not used trucks for some time
• are occasional users
• appear to have developed unsafe working practices
• have had an accident, or a near miss
• have a change to their working practices or environment

So, is forklift refresher training a legal requirement?

Under the law, PUWER 98, it is the employers responsibility to ensure all operators are appropriately trained. Although forklift refresher training technically isn’t a legal requirement, the approved code of practice for rider operated lift trucks (L117) recommends that operators receive refresher training every 3-5 years.

Although the recommended timescale of 3-5 years is not a regulation in itself, L117 does have a special legal status where if followed, you will be legally compliant.

If you are prosecuted for a health & safety breach following an accident or incident involving a forklift, you could be found at fault by the court and be at risk of prosecution, fines or both if it is proved the relevant provisions in L117 were not followed.

Forklift refresher training across the UK

Here at PD Training, we provide forklift refresher courses to lift truck operators across the UK. We can provide training from your workplace or at one of our fully equipped training centres located across the country.

Our forklift training courses ensure that your workforce are formally trained by AITT and Brittops accredited trainers and ensures safe working practices or environments for your workforce.

We offer refresher training on the following fork lift trucks:

• Counterbalance
• Reach Truck
• Electric Pallet Truck
• Forklift Truck Instructor
• Forklift Refresher
• Vehicle Mounted Forklift
• Very narrow Isle Truck
• MEWP/CherryPicker/Boom lift
• Multi Directional Side Loader
• Order Pickers
• Pivot Steer
• Reach Truck
• Scissor Lift

Conclusion

Here at PD Training, we have a large range of forklift and specialist courses to help keep your workplace safe and compliant.

Contact us today to discuss your training requirements.

We would be happy to help!