FLTA has updated its legal advice on the frequency of forklift refresher training.

The UK's Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) has updated its legal advice on the frequency of forklift refresher training for operators.

FLTA chief executive Peter Harvey says regular refresher training for forklift drivers is vital "because it offers managers and supervisors the opportunity to assess the quality and skill of their current drivers and identify shortcomings and bad habits early".

"Since so much forklift truck work is repetitive, it's easy for operators to develop shortcuts and pick up bad habits on the job. Routine reassessments help to identify bad practice and give management the insight to iron out faults and maintain good driving habits.

"Conversely, regular refresher training is also particularly useful when operators don't use trucks very often, when working practices or warehouse environments change or to help build operator confidence in the event of a near miss or
accident."

Since the HSE's Approved Code of Practice does not stipulate the frequency of refresher training, it is the responsibility of the employer to take that decision based on the skill and quality of their operators.

As part of that, employers are obliged to have a refresher training program in place that is designed to identify weaknesses - picked up through continual monitoring and assessment of operators - and overcome them.

HSE's Approved Code of Practice, L117 is perhaps the single most important piece of literature on the safe use of forklifts, according to FLTA. Because of its significance, the FLTA has produced a beginner's guide to L117, which can be found alongside the fact sheets in the 'Best Practice' section of the association's website.

The association's guidance can be found within Fact Sheet 12 (version 3), which deals with the legal requirements for operator refresher training and is aimed at employers, managers, supervisors and those responsible for the safe operation of forklifts.