Eager to secure forklift operator jobs in the UK? The first step is comprehensive forklift training.
Essential for legal purposes and health and safety reasons, learn more about the benefits of forklift training from the team at SB Skills Solutions.
What are the benefits of forklift training in the UK?
Legal compliance
Contrary to popular belief, there’s no formal ‘forklift licence’ required to drive a forklift in the UK.
However, forklift training is mandatory.
In line with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER) 1998 regulations, employers have a legal duty to ensure anyone operating a forklift has received the necessary training and instruction.
This is supported by the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) (L117) for rider-operated lift trucks, which outlines the minimum standards of training for forklift operators.
Failure to ensure operators meet this level of competence can result in fines, legal action, or accidents.
Meets the relevant safety standards
Alongside being a legal necessity, forklift training is also vital for meeting wider industry safety standards.
Construction sites are filled with risks, including constant pedestrian movement, heavy machinery, and uneven terrain, which can put operators and other construction professionals at risk.
Trained forklift operators understand how to safely use a forklift in this type of environment by conducting site-specific risk assessments, carrying our pre-operation checks and daily maintenance, and assessing forklift loads.
These same principles also apply to forklift safety on warehouses and other construction environments where confined spaces and indoor operations may pose unique challenges.
With the appropriate training, forklift operators also know how to respond in emergency situations, which can make a difference in the event of an injury, accident, or machinery breakdown.
Reduces the risk of on-site accidents
According to the British Safety Council, no less than 1,300 people are involved in forklift-related accidents in Britain every year.
While fatal incidents involving forklifts have decreased in the UK, forklift accidents can still lead to everything from minor injuries to deaths.
Proper forklift training can help to reduce the risk of on-site accidents as these operators are better equipped to handle the machinery, identify and mitigate site-specific hazards, and abide by forklift operation best practices.
Alongside protecting construction workers, ensuring operators have received the appropriate forklift training can also support employers by reducing the risk of downtime, legal issues, and even costly reputational damage.
Supports site efficiency and productivity
While safety and legal compliance are some of the most important reasons for employers to invest in essential forklift training, it has the added benefit of supporting the productivity and efficiency of construction sites.
With skilled operators behind the wheel, key tasks carried out with assistance from forklifts can be completed faster and more accurately, helping to deliver projects on time and reduce operational costs.
HSE-recognised forklift training courses
To help secure your ‘forklift licence’ and obtain access to reputable UK construction sites, SB Skills Solutions offers accredited forklift training courses carried out by competent, trained instructors.
Thanks to more than 30 years of invaluable experience in the construction and logistics industry, our team will ensure delegates have a clear understanding of the forklift’s capabilities and functions, know how to carry out pre-use checks, and can safely operate a forklift.
Offering everything from full foundation training to refresher courses and testing only, we cater to all kinds of candidates and their forklift operator requirements – depending on their specific knowledge, experience, and industry.
Learning how to operate a forklift safety on building sites starts with simply giving our team a call today on 01695 558 420.
We also welcome email enquiries sent to info@sbskills.co.uk and those submitted using our convenient online contact forms.
