How to Choose the Right Forklift Training

Choosing the right forklift training for you and your team can be a daunting task. There are a few elements to consider before booking a course, and it’s important to remember that training isn’t just a tick-box exercise, it saves lives. Plus, making the wrong decision can complicate things if you ever end up being investigated by HSE.

Do you and your team even need forklift training?

The answer here is a resounding yes. HSE requires operators of lift trucks, and those who supervise the use of lift trucks, to have had adequate training covering the use of the equipment, the risks involved, and the precautions needed to minimise those risks. This training should be carried out by a competent instructor, and what the training covered should be properly logged.

The different levels of training: Novice, Experienced, Conversion or Refresher

Next, you need to decide the level of training that you or your employee requires. The four types of training are novice, experienced, conversion, and refresher training.

Novice training is for someone who has never used the machine before, or has only received minimal training. Experienced training is for someone who has used the machine regularly, usually for at least a year, but has never received any formal training. Conversion training is for someone who has received training on a similar machine before. There has to be enough similarity between the machines, such as converting from a counterbalance to a reach truck. Refresher training is for someone who has already been trained and certified on that specific machine before. Refresher training is generally recommended every three to five years.

HSE also advises that training should include basic training, specific job training, and familiarisation training. Basic training is what you would normally cover on a forklift course, and it teaches the basic skills and knowledge required to operate a lift truck safely. Specific job training relates to the operator’s specific workplace environment and machine. Familiarisation training applies what has been learnt in the basic training and specific job training, helping the operator build confidence in real working conditions.

What are the benefits of accredited training?

CTS is an RTITB accredited training centre.

Accredited training means that the training the candidate has received has been delivered to a defined standard. The elements covered in the course are pre-defined, so there is no room for excuses like “It wasn’t covered in my training” if an incident happens. You know exactly what has been covered, it is the same for every member of your staff, and in the event of an incident, HSE will also recognise accredited training.

Going to an accredited training provider also helps guarantee that your staff receive training to a recognised standard. The training centre and instructors will be regularly audited to ensure the correct standards are being followed, which gives you added confidence that the training is both thorough and up to date.

If a candidate has trained with CTS, you will be able to verify their training on the NORS database.

Training locations: at your site or at a training centre

If the training takes place at your site, the candidates benefit from training on the machines and in the environment where they will usually work. The instructor also has the opportunity to personalise the training to suit the environment. If the candidates will be working in tight spaces or with a particular type of load, for example, the instructor can focus on those specific challenges. However, basic training needs to take place off the job, so it can’t be carried out while the candidate is doing their normal work.

Training at a centre means candidates are less likely to be distracted by work going on at their own site, and it means that one of the company machines will not be out of action for the duration of the course. At the CTS training centre in Wisbech, your candidates will also have the option of training alone, with other members of their team, or in an open course with candidates from other companies.

What happens after forklift training?

At the end of the training, the candidate should pass a test to demonstrate what they have learnt and to prove that they have the necessary knowledge and skill to operate the machine safely. RTITB testing at CTS involves a written multiple-choice test and a practical test on the machine.

On successful completion of the training course and tests, the candidate will receive a certificate, and if you complete RTITB accredited training with CTS the candidate will also receive an e-card.

All forklift operators should be routinely monitored to make sure that they operate the machines safely. CTS also offers ongoing training and assessments for candidates who have picked up bad habits, or where there has been a minor incident that needs addressing.

Overall, the right forklift training comes down to matching the course to the operator’s experience, your company’s needs, and the environment they will be working in. Taking the time to choose carefully helps ensure safer operations, better compliance, and more confident operators.

You can book forklift training for yourself or your team with CTS. We have a purpose-built training centre in Wisbech, or we can come to your site across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and beyond.

Find out more on our website here

Book now on 01945 880155 or [email protected]