Industrial forklifts are heavy, motorised vehicles. They are used for lifting and moving heavy objects. Components like the pronged forks, as well as the conditions in which forklifts are used, mean that their use poses a number of potential hazards to the user and to others in the vicinity. It is the responsibility of the site owner or employer to ensure that all employees are provided with a safe working environment. This means ensuring that the forklift is kept in good working order, that employees are provided with the proper health and safety equipment, and that they have or receive the proper training.
Industrial forklift training provided by SB Skills Solutions Ltd meets all legal requirements and can be tailored to include additional training elements as required by your business. We are a fully accredited training centre, and all of our instructors are highly qualified and have industry experience.
We also offer courses for total novices, as well as for those that have more experience in the operation and use of this type of machinery. Call us and speak to one of the team about tailored training courses for your forklift operators.
Participant Requirements
In order to start the industrial forklift truck training course, candidates must have successfully completed the touch screen Construction Skills Health and Safety course within the past two years. This course gives a solid foundation of health and safety practices within the construction industry, and candidates will need this knowledge when taking part in forklift safety training.
All delegates must have good verbal and written English skills to be able to complete the course and the examination at the end.
Who Should Take Industrial Forklift Training?
Industrial forklift training is a legal requirement for any employee or individual that will be operating this type of machinery. As such, any employees that need to use a forklift, as well as managers and supervisors, should be considered for this training course. Individuals looking to improve their prospects within the construction or warehousing industries can also sign up to complete the course.
Forklift training courses
SB Skills Solutions is an accredited forklift training organisation in Lancashire with the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS) training body. This means that our training has to be a certain standard and is monitored on a regular basis to ensure quality. Our forklift training certification is nationally recognised, meaning it can be used all over the country.
All of our courses include the following:
- Basic National Plant NPORS Registration
- Full Certification and Test Fees
- Provision of ID card with photograph
- Certificate of Basic Training
- A detailed course manual with working exercises (except Refresher courses)
- Courses can either be conducted onsite, or at our Manchester premises.
Novice training course
This operator training course is designed for potential operators who have no previous experience of operating industrial trucks. They should be over the minimum school-leaving age (except in docks where they must be at least 18 years of age), they should have a reasonable degree of physical fitness and be able to satisfy the requirements set out in the: HSE publication
Rider-operated lift trucks – Operator training and safe use. Approved Code of Practice & Guidance L117 (Third edition, published 2013) (ISBN 978 0 7176 6441 2) produced by HSE
Training Course Aim: To provide effective basic operator training for those operators who will be required to operate industrial counterbalanced or reach lift trucks, rider operated as part of their normal work duties. This operator training course is designed to meet the requirements placed upon employers with regard to their duties under the HEALTH and SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974; the PROVISION and USE of WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (PUWER); the LIFTING OPERATIONS and LIFTING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (LOLER), as applicable and other relevant regulations and codes of practice.
Training Course Objective: On successful completion of this basic novice operator-training course, the course candidates will be able to:
- Operate the truck model used during the training course, safely and correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual and in accepted good operating practices.
- Show their understanding, by clearly stating the causes of instability of trucks and loads.
- Carry out correctly the routine pre-use inspection of the lift truck in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual.
| Duration | Course Members | Number of Instructors | Number of Trucks |
| 5 Days (32.5 hours) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 Days (26 hours) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 Days (19.5 hours) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Experienced training course
This operator training course is designed for the operator with previous operating experience with industrial counterbalanced or reach lift trucks rider-operated who, has never received formal training and undergone a test of ‘basic operating skills’, or for the operator converting from one truck type to another. They should be over the minimum school-leaving age (except in docks where they must be at least 18 years of age), they should have a reasonable degree of physical fitness and be able to satisfy the requirements set out in the: Rider-operated lift trucks – Operator training and safe use. Approved Code of Practice & Guidance L117 (Third edition, published 2013) (ISBN 978 0 7176 6441 2) produced by HSE Evidence of Previous Training/Experience: Candidates attending existing and conversion courses must be in possession and provide documentary evidence of adequate previous training/experience
Training Course Aim: To provide effective basic operator training for those operators who will be required to operate industrial counterbalanced or reach lift trucks, rider operated as part of their normal work duties. This operator training course is designed to meet the requirements placed upon employers with regard to their duties under the HEALTH and SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974; the PROVISION and USE of WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (PUWER); the LIFTING OPERATIONS and LIFTING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (LOLER), as applicable and other relevant regulations and codes of practice.
Training Course Objective: On successful completion of this basic existing operator-training course, the course candidates will be able to:
- Operate the truck model used during the training course, safely and correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual and in accepted good operating practices.
- Show their understanding, by clearly stating the causes of the instability of trucks and loads.
- Carry out correctly the routine pre-use inspection of the lift truck in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual.
| Duration | Course Members | Number of Instructors | Number of Trucks |
| 3 Days (19.5 hours) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2.5 Days (16.25 hours) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 Days (13 hours) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Refresher Training Course
This operator training course is designed for those operators’ who have earlier been given adequate formal basic operator training and are appropriately certificated to operate industrial counterbalanced or reach lift trucks rider-operated (documentary evidence of eligibility must be provided to support this claim). They should be over the minimum school-leaving age (except in docks where they must be at least 18 years of age), they should have a reasonable degree of physical fitness and be able to satisfy the requirements set out in the:
Rider-operated lift trucks – Operator training and safe use. Approved Code of Practice & Guidance L117 (Third edition, published 2013) (ISBN 978 0 7176 6441 2) produced by HSE
Evidence of Previous Training/Experience: Candidates attending refresher courses must be in possession and provide documentary evidence of adequate previous training/experience.
Training Course Aim: To provide effective basic operator refresher training for those operators who have earlier been given adequate formal basic operator training and who are appropriately certificated to operate industrial counterbalanced or reach lift trucks, rider operated. This operator training course is designed to meet the requirements placed upon employers with regard to their duties under the HEALTH and SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974; the PROVISION and USE of WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (PUWER); the LIFTING OPERATIONS and LIFTING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998 (LOLER), as applicable and other relevant regulations and codes of practice.
Training Course Objective: On successful completion of this operator refresher-training course, the course candidates will be able to:
- Operate the truck model used during the training course, safely and correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual and in accepted good operating practices.
- Show their understanding, by clearly stating the causes of instability of trucks and loads.
Carry out correctly the routine pre-use inspection and take-over maintenance of the truck in accordance with the manufacturer’s operator procedures manual.
| Duration | Course Members | Number of Instructors | Number of Trucks |
| 1 Day(6.5 hours) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Day (5.5 hours) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Day (4.5 hours) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Types of Forklift trucks
Counterbalance forklift truck
Counterbalance truck (B1, B2) is the correct name, but most people refer to this as a forklift.
They are classed a B1 up to 5000Kg capacity and B2 over 5000kg. Counterbalances can be used in various situations as they can be 3 wheeled (tight working environments) or 4 wheels.
Powered by electric, LPG or diesel. Heights reached are usually around 5m.
Reach trucks
Reach trucks (D1, D2) are normally found inside warehouses.
Due to their size and manoeuvrability, they need less space meaning tighter aisles.
They can also go higher than counterbalances.
A D1 reach truck can go up to 8m and a D2 above 8m, usually around 12.5 m.
Maximum lifting capacity is around 2000kg. Reach trucks are always electric.
Pivot steer trucks
Pivot steer (P1) is the correct name, but people refer to them by the more popular brand names of Bendi or Flexi trucks.
These are more versatile as they can do the jobs of both counterbalance and reach.
They can load lorries as well as using tighter and higher aisles than a reach.
These can be gas or Electric, maximum capacity around 2000kg and heights up to 14 m.
VNA or very narrow aisles (F1) trucks
VNA or very narrow aisles (F1) trucks are used in warehouses that are high and with very narrow aisles.
Used to put stock away into racking.
They require the operator to ride up to the required location.
The forks can be rotated to face either direction. Heights up to 14 m. VNA are always electric.
Electric pallet trucks
Electric pallet trucks (A1, A2) are used in many warehouses because they are cheaper and more manoeuvrable than conventional lift trucks.
Capable of lifting heavy loads (2500kg) at a low level, they can either be pedestrian operated A1 or rider operated A2.
Stacker trucks
Stacker trucks (A3, A4) Similar to the electric pallet trucks but these can stack to higher levels.
Pedestrian operated is an A3 and rider operated is an A4.
Industrial Forklift Training From SB Skills Solutions Ltd
As well as offering courses from NPORS, we can also tailor our courses to meet your requirements. We are an accredited training centre and all of our instructors are highly qualified and with industry experience. We serve businesses of all sizes, helping ensure that they minimise accidents caused on-site. You can view all of our courses on our site, or call us on 01695 558420 and speak to one of the team with any questions or queries.
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