Euro One Driver Training

The HSC Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, detailed below, clearly states that

“Children under minimum school leaving age should never operate lift trucks.”

It also states that operators of fork lift trucks on docks premises must be at least 18.

These are the only clear age related statements in official documents. However, guidance goes on to say that young persons, under 18, often lack experience and maturity and are at greater risk than older employees and should not be allowed to operate fork lift trucks without adequate supervision.

Except in special circumstances Euro1 Training do not accept trainee operators under the age of 17.

The minimum ages specified in road traffic legislation apply when fork lift trucks are operated on public roads. Currently this would be age 17 for trucks up to 3.5 tonnes gvw, 18 up to 7.5 tonnes gvw, and 21 for heavier equipment. (gvw = gross vehicle weight = the weight of the fork lift truck and the load)

Further information is available on 01302 337530

The Health and Safety Commission recognize a number of bodies as being competent to accredit training organisations for the training of fork lift truck instructors and operators. When selecting a trainer or training company it would be prudent to check that they have been accredited by one of these bodies and that the accreditation is current. Euro1 Training Ltd is currently accredited by all the bodies listed below.

Details of the accrediting bodies, including their areas of specialism, are given below.

Construction Industry Training Board Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6RH

www.constructionskills.co.uk Construction Plan Competence Scheme (CPC) Tel: 0870 417 7274

Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register Armstrong House, 28 Broad Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AB

(ITSSAR) www.itssar.org.uk Tel: 0118 989 3229 Fax: 0118 979 6058 Email: info@itssar.org.uk

National Plant Operators Registration Scheme Ltd PO Box 204, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7FY

(NPORS) www.npors.com Tel: 01606 49909 Fax: 01606 352239 Email info@npors.com

Further information is available on 01302 337530

There is no such thing as a fork lift truck driver’s licence!

There is no central licensing authority.

Every employer has a responsibility, under Regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), to ensure that employees have adequate training before they use work equipment. The training required in order to operate most fork lift trucks is explained in the special Code of Practice detailed below.

The operator should receive training on each type of equipment he or she may be required to operate. Such training may be provided by an in-house instructor or an external trainer. The training provider should then issue a certificate, or other document, giving details of the results of that training. This document is not a licence however Euro1 Training Ltd will issue, on successful completion of the FLT training course, a photo card authorised by the accrediting body, currently CPCS,ITSSAR and NPORS.

The employer is required to give written authority for any employee to actually operate the equipment. If an individual document is issued this is the closest document to a licence, but it is not a licence. The employer alone will determine how long this authority remains valid but it is good practice to ensure that the performance of all operators is formally monitored.

Further information is available on 01302 337530

Hand pallet trucks, or rather their operators, are responsible for many accidents in the work place. Training requirements should not be under-estimated.

Regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) makes it very clear that an employer must provide adequate training for all persons who use work equipment. This includes training in how the equipment should be used, the risks involved and precautions to be taken.

The same regulation makes it clear that those who supervise or manage the use of such equipment must also receive adequate, similar training.

All the various types of hand controlled pallet trucks would fall into this category, from the simple manual pump truck through to quite complex electric counterbalance stackers. The degree of training required, and the time it will take, will vary according to the type of equipment and the tasks to be performed.

Euro1 Training Ltd will visit your premises and can assess and train up to three trainees per day for a fixed daily fee which would be less than the cost of individual training. This “in house” training still needs to be properly organised and formally recorded. If in any doubt professional advice should be sought.

Further information is available 01302 337530

There is no legal requirement for fork lift truck operators to receive routine refresher training. Such training may be needed in certain circumstances. The HSC Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L117) states the following:

“There is no specific requirement to provide refresher training after set intervals, but even trained and experienced lift-truck operators need to be re-assessed from time to time to ensure that they continue to operate lift trucks safely. This assessment, which should form part of a firm’s normal monitoring procedures and be formally time-tabled to ensure that it is done at reasonable intervals, will indicate whether any further training is needed.”

In addition to routine monitoring formal re-assessment is likely to be needed where operators:

• 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.


Euro1 Training Ltd would advise that refresher training, if required, should not follow a set programme. It should be designed to overcome the weaknesses highlighted by the monitoring/assessment process and should be a minimum of one day.

Further information is available on 01302 337530.

As already explained there is no such thing as a fork lift truck driver’s licence in the
UK. It follows therefore that a fork truck licence issued in any other country cannot be valid in the UK.

Some countries do issue licences to fork lift truck operators. It is quite common for an
individual from one of these countries, who is seeking employment in UK as a fork lift truck
operator, to offer this licence, with an authenticated translation, as proof of their ability to
operate. Whilst there may be no reason to doubt the authenticity of such documentation it
would be unwise for any potential employer to accept it at face value. At the very least the
skills required to obtain that licence may not have been appropriate to either the kind of truck or the operating environment for which the individual is to be employed.

Under these circumstances it would be best to treat the foreign licence as though it were a
training certificate from an unknown, unaccredited trainer – with caution. Arrange to have the potential employee formally assessed and then provide any additional training that may be required. Euro1 Training Ltd would be happy to make this assessment and advise potential employers on the necessity of conversion (2 days), or refresher (1day), training.

Remember, the employer is required to give written authority for any employee to actually
operate the equipment. The employer alone will determine how long this authority remains
valid and it is good practice to ensure that the performance of all operators is formally
monitored on a regular basis.

Further information is available on 01302 337530.

Yes you do. Although there are similarities there are also profound differences. The law is quite clear. You must be trained by an accredited trainer on each item of lifting equipment.

This will depend on your age and experience. As a guide a novice should be trained between 3 and 5 days, a conversion from one type of machine to another at least 2 days and a refresher course should last at least one day.