Ensuring your forklift maintenance and upkeep is up to date is important, but so is ensuring your forklift operators are qualified for the job. Certification is beneficial for both parties involved to ensure compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to ensure a safe working environment.
Why is forklift certification important?
Not only is forklift certification mandatory to comply with OSHA rules and regulations, it also reduces the number of accidents that may occur in the workplace. For the employer, it covers any costly insurance matters at hand when an accident occurs, as it is less likely for an insurance company to want to cover any damages done by an uncertified forklift driver.
Another benefit of ensuring forklift operators are properly certified is for the longevity of your forklifts. When a driver is properly trained, they are more likely to know the proper procedures to check a forklift prior to each use. This will greatly reduce the wear and tear of a forklift and is a proactive way to ensure no greater damage is done to machinery which could be costly in the long run.
3 Steps to obtaining a forklift license:
Tick off these steps given by Australian Forklift Training and you’ll be on your way.
- Complete the mandatory training course
- Pass the licence assessment
- Apply for your 5-year licence at a post office near you
Where can I receive Forklift training?
Most workplaces will give you the option of an online or in-person training course. The employer themselves are responsible for providing proper training, whether it be doing it themselves or outsourcing someone qualified to train and certify forklift licences.
Depending on the place, cost of training may differ. If done online, pricing can go from as low as $50 to as high as $200, whilst in-person training courses would normally range between $150 – $200 and extend over one or two days.
What type of forklift licence should I get?
The operation of each forklift is difference, hence there are two different licenses you can obtain that encapsulates various forklift types.
LF Class – Forklift Licence
This is the basic licence most operators obtain as it allows operation of any forklift vehicle except for the Load-Shifting Order Picker.
What you can operate:
- Counter balanced forklift truck
- Reach forklift truck
- Side loading forklift truck
- All-terrain forklift truck
- Truck mounted forklift truck
LO Class – Order Picking Forklift Truck Licence
If your workplace requires you to operate a Load Shifting Order Picker and/or a Very Narrow Aisle truck/ Turret Truck, this is the option to go for.
The only difference between the two is that a harness needs to be worn at all times when operating the LO order picker as the job may require the person to be elevated as high as 10m above ground.
What you can operate:
- Order picking forklift truck
- Turret Truck
Course Requirements
Whether it be online or in-person, there are strict guidelines to be sure of before undergoing and training. Make sure that you are:
- Over the age of 18
- Fluent in English
- Able to provide 100 points of identification to the accredited licence assessor at the start of your assessment
- In possession of a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
Do I need to renew my forklift licence?
Once every three years, an evaluation must be conducted by employers to ensure forklift operators are still fit to drive a forklift.
A refresher training course need to be undertaken if drivers have been involved in an accident or incident of any kind that harmed workplace health and safety or if a driver has been assigned to operate a different type of forklift. This is then followed by an operation evaluation.
These certifications are transferable and applicable to any state and workplace in the country. So, if you’re looking into working with forklifts, ensure you can tick off all these requirements to not only avoid funds, but also to ensure workplace health and safety of both yourself and other workers.
Already have your licence sorted and looking for a forklift to do the job? We have a range of used forklifts and forklifts for hire for you to choose from!