Operator skills will deteriorate over time and so it is important to keep up to date on how to safely use forklift trucks. Refresher training will keep your operators up to date and compliant with legislation.
What Refresher Training Covers
The training will cover items such as pre-use checks, safe handling of loads, movement with loads on board, and any site specific items that have been changed since the last training session. Additionally any updates to operating procedures or items related to specific equipment that have occurred since the last formal training session.
How Often to Schedule It
No fixed time period is stated within legislation but the HSE guidelines for training lift truck operators state that the employer must assess when a refresher is required on an on-going basis. This is typically suggested to be every 3 to 5 years but this must be assessed on an individual basis and the decision recorded.
Triggers for an Unplanned Refresher For Forklift Training Swindon, see https://globalflt.com/services/rtitb/fork-lift-truck-training-near-me/swindon/.
There are certain circumstances when a forklift operator’s training needs to be refreshed outside of the usual timeframe. These include when an accident or near-miss incident occurs, when an operator has not used a lift truck for a long time (e.g. several months), when an operator is moved to operate a different type of lift truck, or when an operator is moved to a different site. In all of these circumstances a refresher course of training would be required before the operator is allowed to use a lift truck unsupervised.
What the Assessment Involves
Many operators misunderstand refresher training thinking that so long as they attend a course they will pass. The operator’s ability to safely use lift trucks will be assessed during the refresher training course. This assessment will consist of an operator being able to carry out the pre-use checks correctly, safely move around the site with loads on the truck and generally safely operate the lift truck.
Keeping Records for Compliance
Employers must keep a copy of the refresher training certificates for all operators, recording what has led to the training and when the next review is due. In the event of an accident these will prove that the operator’s training has been up to date and that you have acted in a responsible manner.
