It is my understanding that it would be the operator's responsibility (cost, time, travel, etc.) to obtain the training, assessment, and licensing for the forklift or order picker truck. The employer is not responsible in this area. If the employer doesn't assist the employee in these areas, however, the employer may find a shortage of qualified operators for his/her operations (especially in these times of worker shortages in the Australian transport industry trades).

An employer would not be allowed to have a person operate a forklift or order picker truck without a valid license. The license training, however, would only cover basic minimal operational safety of the forklift or order picker. The revised standard would still require the employer to provide additional training/information/instruction. It would not require that this additional training/information/instruction be given by a registered training organization (RTO).

"Responsibilities of Other Persons, 9.2 - To Ensure performance beyond the minimum competencies required for licensing, the person who engages or employs persons licensed to perform high risk work must provide such licence holders with additional training, instruction and information on the equipment operation, hazards, risks and control measures relevant to their workplace."

Do Australian forklift and order picker truck operators or employers understand the implications of this consensus standard should it be adopted by their state or territory?