When you look at the statistics, it is easy to see why forklift driver training is so important. Around 25% of all transport-related workplace accidents involve a lift truck of some kind. UK employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their employees and other people on their premises. In this article we explain why forklift certification and forklift refresher courses are such an important addition, not only to a health and safety policy, but also to a general work ethos and HR outlook.
TL;DR
- There is no legal forklift licence in the UK, but employers must ensure operators are adequately trained and competent, so forklift certification is how you prove it.
- PUWER 1998 requires adequate training for anyone using or overseeing work equipment, and AFTT courses follow the HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for lift truck operator training.
- Around 25% of transport-related workplace accidents involve a lift truck, and trained operators are less likely to cause accidents or injure themselves.
- New employees need accredited training or verified previous qualifications, and existing operators should be routinely monitored and refresher trained where necessary.
- Training pays back through lower accident, damage and liability costs, and can boost staff morale and retention.
- AFTT is an AITT-accredited training provider, offering fork truck, instructor, manager or supervisor and plant training courses.
What is forklift certification and is there a forklift licence?
There is no generic forklift licence in the UK, so forklift certification is the documented proof that an operator has been trained to the right standard. Historically there has been some confusion because businesses are not required by law to issue training certificates for forklift driver training or a forklift refresher course. This means that there is, in effect, no generic forklift licence. However, there is a legal requirement to ensure the safety of all people in a workplace, particularly when it comes to using equipment, and it makes sense to ensure the standardisation and transferability of forklift driver training through the issuing of forklift certification. At AFTT we offer a full range of AITT (Association of Industrial Truck Trainers) accredited courses at either your location or our state-of-the-art Hertfordshire training facility.
What are the legal requirements for forklift driver training?
The law requires employers to provide adequate training for anyone using or overseeing work equipment, under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), all employers are required to ensure that anybody using or overseeing the use of work equipment including those who are self-employed, have received adequate training. All AFTT forklift driver training courses follow the HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for lift truck operator training, which includes detailed guidance on potential lift truck operators, training objectives, testing, familiarisation training and authorisation. The HSE ACOP states that certificates of training offer, ‘evidence that operators have received relevant training and achieved an appropriate level of ability’.
How does forklift training affect employer liability?
Proper forklift training and certification significantly reduce an employer’s exposure to liability if an accident occurs. It is impossible to avoid some element of liability if accidents occur on company property or when people are using company equipment. However a company that is running with untrained forklift operators or fails to have an adequate health and safety policy, including policies on forklift driver training and forklift refresher courses, is going to have far larger liable claims on their hands than one with a measured and comprehensive policy that includes nationally accredited forklift certification.
What training do new employees need?
For a new employee you are responsible for either arranging accredited training or verifying their existing qualifications before they operate a lift truck. The HSE are very clear that there is officially no such thing as a lift-truck or forklift licence. This means that, when a new employee joins your team, you are responsible for either ensuring that accredited training takes place or checking any previous qualifications. If it has not been provided by an AITT accredited organisation, the quality of the training will be difficult to verify and it will be up to you, as the employer, to take the sensible decision to provide access to a suitable forklift refresher course.
How often do existing forklift operators need refresher training?
Existing operators should be routinely monitored and, where necessary, retested or refresher trained to keep their skills current and safe. The HSE regulations state that previously trained or experienced lift truck or forklift operators should be ‘routinely monitored and, where necessary, retested or refresher trained’ in order to ensure the safe continuation of forklift use. Any employer who ignores or attempts to skirt around this instruction could be skating on thin ice. A considered forklift certification and forklift refresher course policy will cover the slightly subjective ‘where necessary’ element of this directive. At AFTT we offer AITT fully accredited fork truck courses, instructor courses, manager/supervisor courses and plant training courses.
Which forklift training course does each role need?
Different roles need different courses, from operators through to the managers and supervisors who oversee them. The list below sets out the main AITT-accredited courses AFTT offers and who they are for.
- Fork truck courses, for operators who drive lift trucks, whether new to the role or in need of a refresher.
- Instructor courses, for those who will train and assess other operators.
- Manager and supervisor courses, for those responsible for overseeing lift truck operations and safety.
- Plant training courses, for operators of related plant equipment.
Is forklift training a good return on investment?
Yes, forklift training pays back by cutting the costs of accidents, damage and liability claims. Lift truck accidents are not only costly in terms of injury compensation and insurance costs; even in an accident where nobody is injured, costs related to damaged equipment, stock and even buildings can quickly escalate. Drivers who are trained correctly through initial forklift certification or a forklift refresher course are less likely to cause accidents, less likely to injure themselves and require sick leave and less likely to place ‘blame’ on their employer should an accident occur. All of our AFTT forklift driver training courses, plus our forklift refresher courses include accreditation.
Can forklift training boost staff morale?
Yes, job-specific training such as forklift certification supports job satisfaction and can help you retain staff. A job satisfaction study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 41% of workers see job-specific training as ‘very important’ to their job satisfaction. Staff who don’t receive correct and necessary training are not only a danger to themselves and other people, they can more easily become disgruntled and consider leaving a post.
The costs of replacing employees who leave an organisation are high and include advertising and interview costs, the downtime whilst a replacement employee is found and the logistics of getting somebody new up to speed. Accredited forklift certification and access to a forklift refresher course are of importance to your employees and may prove to be an attractive factor when it comes to workforce retention and recruitment.
What is AITT accreditation and why does it matter?
AITT accreditation is a voluntary quality mark that shows a training provider meets the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice for lift truck operator training. We are proud to offer courses that have been accredited by the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT). Accreditation in this manner is voluntary but we feel it is a vital tool that enables us to assure quality of training, and guarantee worthwhile forklift certification. It is the job of an accreditation organisation to ensure that all forklift driver training meets the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice for lift-truck operator training by setting and maintaining professional standards and making it easier for employers to select courses that offer a high standard of training.
For any employer or manager responsible for the safety of a workforce that uses lift-truck equipment, a solid health and safety approach will include measured company policy on forklift certification and when employees should take a forklift refresher course. At AFTT we offer a comprehensive range of forklift and lift-truck training for new employees, existing employees, supervisors and managers. Get in touch with us today on 01438 222157to find out more and obtain a free, no-obligation quote for your training needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a forklift licence a legal requirement in the UK?
There is officially no such thing as a forklift or lift-truck licence in the UK. However, employers are legally required to ensure operators are adequately trained and competent, particularly under PUWER 1998. Accredited forklift certification is how that duty is met and evidenced.
What does PUWER 1998 require for forklift operators?
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), employers must ensure that anyone using or overseeing work equipment, including the self-employed, has received adequate training. For lift trucks this means following the HSE Approved Code of Practice for operator training. It covers training objectives, testing, familiarisation training and authorisation.
How often should forklift operators have refresher training?
The HSE states that experienced operators should be routinely monitored and, where necessary, retested or refresher trained. There is no single fixed interval, so the ‘where necessary’ element is a judgement for the employer. A clear certification and refresher policy is the sensible way to manage this.
What should I do when a new employee says they are already trained?
You are responsible for either arranging accredited training or checking their previous qualifications. If the earlier training was not provided by an AITT-accredited organisation, its quality can be difficult to verify. In that case the sensible course is to provide a suitable forklift refresher course.
Does forklift certification reduce employer liability?
Yes. While some liability always exists when accidents happen on company premises or equipment, a business with untrained operators and a weak health and safety policy faces far larger claims. A measured policy that includes nationally accredited forklift certification helps limit that exposure. Trained drivers are also less likely to cause accidents in the first place.
What is AITT accreditation?
AITT stands for the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers. AITT accreditation is a voluntary quality mark confirming that training meets the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice for lift truck operator training. It sets and maintains professional standards and makes it easier for employers to choose high-quality courses.
Is forklift training worth the cost?
Yes. Lift truck accidents are costly in injury compensation and insurance, and even accidents with no injury can damage equipment, stock and buildings. Correctly trained drivers are less likely to cause accidents, take sick leave or blame their employer. Training therefore tends to pay for itself in reduced risk and cost.
What forklift training courses does AFTT offer?
AFTT offers AITT-accredited fork truck courses for operators, instructor courses, manager and supervisor courses, and plant training courses. Training can be delivered at your location or at our Hertfordshire training facility. This covers new employees, existing employees, supervisors and managers.
Can forklift training improve staff retention?
Yes. A Society for Human Resource Management study found that 41% of workers see job-specific training as very important to their job satisfaction. Offering accredited certification and refresher courses can make staff feel valued and reduce the high costs of replacing employees who leave. It can be an attractive factor in both retention and recruitment.
- Counterbalance Forklift Training in the UK - 6th July 2026
- Forklift Training Cost: What Employers Actually Pay and Why It Matters - 7th May 2026
- Plant Operator Training - 4th April 2026
