Employers ensure forklift safety by combining maintained equipment, a safe working environment, correct load handling and properly trained operators, all backed by daily checks and clear site rules. All employers are responsible for ensuring forklift safety for their employees. Forklifts are involved in 25% of all workplace accidents. The main piece of legislation that governs forklift truck safety is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The regulations contained within this act cover many aspects of occupational health and safety and are commonly enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities.
Penalties may be issued to employers who fail to ensure forklift safety. We have developed a quick and easy-to-use forklift safety checklist to help answer the question, ‘How can I ensure forklift truck safety for my workforce?’
TL;DR
- Equipment: provide daily pre-shift checklists, keep a maintenance policy tied to hours worked, and let only suitably qualified people carry out repairs.
- Environment: put up clear signage, give site-specific training when sites or layouts change, and display speed and distance rules.
- Loads: train operators on stable, evenly distributed loads, never carry personnel except as a last resort with a proper cage, and plan for awkward loads individually.
- Personnel: the HSE recommends three stages of training, basic, specific job and familiarisation, plus correct safety clothing and driver positioning.
- The law: the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 governs forklift safety and is enforced by the HSE, with penalties for employers who fail to comply.
- Support: AFTT is an AITT-accredited training provider offering training at your location or at our training centre.
How do you keep forklift equipment safe?
Keep forklift equipment safe with daily checks, a written maintenance policy and repairs done only by qualified people.
Do you have daily equipment safety checklists?
Forklift drivers should be provided with a daily forklift safety checklist to be used without fail at the start of each shift. This forklift checklist should include: tyres, steering, brakes, all moving parts, hoses and pipes and warning devices. Forklift equipment requiring repair should not be used.
Do you have a forklift maintenance policy?
More detailed regular forklift inspections should follow manufacturers instructions. These will relate to the number of hours worked for each forklift, so this should be carefully recorded.
Who carries out your forklift maintenance?
Only suitably qualified people, often a dealer service engineer, should carry out forklift truck maintenance and repairs.
How do you make the working environment safe for forklifts?
Make the environment safe with clear signage, site-specific training and displayed speed and distance rules.
Have you provided adequate signage and instruction to ensure a safe forklift-working environment?
Workplace signs should warn of hazardous materials, height restrictions, safety gear requirements or temporary hazards such as wet floors.
Have your operators had site-specific training?
Site-specific training should be given either when an operator moves to a new site or area or when the working environment undergoes changes.
Are speed restrictions and operating distances in place and clearly displayed?
Forklift speed instructions should always be followed, and operators should be aware of the expectation to reduce speed for turns. Sudden stops, starts and changes of direction should be avoided and safe-operating distances always observed.
How should forklift loads be handled safely?
Handle loads safely by training operators on stability, never carrying personnel except as a last resort, and planning for awkward loads.
Do your forklift operators understand the load specifications for forklift truck safety?
Each driver should be trained on methods to ensure that loads are stable and evenly distributed. Maximum loads should be clearly visible and specified load fastenings and fastening points should be used.
Have you warned your forklift drivers about the dangers of carrying additional personnel on any part of the forklift?
Personnel should not be lifted using a forklift unless there is no other option available. We do not recommend it, but if this should become necessary, follow operating instructions and use a specialist work platform and cage.
Have you developed site-specific instructions for unusually shaped loads?
Loads that do not meet usual specifications, that is those that are long, wide, tall or rounded, should be planned for individually. An additional member of staff should be available to help with manoeuvring. Work, especially turning, should be completed at a slower rate.
What does forklift safety require from your personnel?
Forklift safety requires trained operators in the correct clothing who position themselves properly in the truck.
Do your forklift operators have adequate training?
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) state that for maximum forklift safety your operators should be trained in 3 stages to include:
- Basic training, covering basic skills, awareness of risks and loads
- Specific job training, tailored to the specific needs of your organisation
- Familiarisation training, carried out on site but under supervision
Have your forklift operators been issued with safety clothing?
Appropriate safety clothing should always be worn when operating a forklift truck. This would include: hi-visibility jackets, hard hats and safety shoes. Operators should be made aware of the risks of loose clothing becoming caught in equipment or controls.
Do your forklift operators understand the importance of correct driver positioning?
When entering and leaving the forklift truck the correct handholds and steps should be used. Seat belts should always be worn, and seat position and mirrors should be adjusted to suit each individual driver. For forklift truck safety, trucks should only be operated from the seat.
What are the three HSE stages of forklift operator training?
The HSE sets out three stages of operator training, and the table below summarises what each stage covers so you can check your programme addresses all three.
| Stage | What it covers | Where it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Basic training | Basic skills, awareness of risks and loads | Off the job, in controlled conditions |
| Specific job training | The specific needs of your organisation | Tailored to your operation |
| Familiarisation training | Applying skills in the real workplace | On site, under supervision |
Frequently Asked Questions
What law governs forklift safety in the UK?
The main piece of legislation is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which covers many aspects of occupational health and safety. It is commonly enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities. Employers who fail to ensure forklift safety may face penalties.
Whose responsibility is forklift safety?
Forklift safety is ultimately the employer’s responsibility, because employers must ensure a safe system of work for their employees. That covers maintained equipment, a safe environment, correct load handling and properly trained operators. Operators share the duty by following the rules and reporting problems.
What are the three stages of forklift operator training?
The HSE recommends training operators in three stages: basic training in core skills and risk awareness, specific job training tailored to your organisation, and familiarisation training carried out on site under supervision. Each stage builds on the last. Together they ensure an operator is competent on your particular site.
What should a daily forklift safety checklist include?
A daily pre-shift checklist should cover tyres, steering, brakes, all moving parts, hoses and pipes, and warning devices. It should be used without fail at the start of every shift. Any forklift needing repair should be taken out of use until it is fixed.
Who is allowed to carry out forklift maintenance?
Only suitably qualified people, often a dealer service engineer, should carry out forklift maintenance and repairs. Routine inspections should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and relate to the hours each truck has worked. Recording those hours carefully keeps servicing on schedule.
Can you carry people on a forklift?
Personnel should not be lifted using a forklift unless there is no other option available. If it becomes unavoidable, you must follow the operating instructions and use a specialist work platform and cage. It is not a practice AFTT recommends.
When is site-specific forklift training needed?
Site-specific training is needed when an operator moves to a new site or area, or when the working environment changes. It ensures operators understand the particular hazards, layout and rules where they will be driving. This is separate from general operator certification.
What safety clothing should forklift operators wear?
Operators should wear appropriate safety clothing, including hi-visibility jackets, hard hats and safety shoes. They should also be aware of the risk of loose clothing becoming caught in equipment or controls. Correct clothing is a simple but important part of forklift safety.
How should operators position themselves in a forklift?
Operators should enter and leave using the correct handholds and steps, always wear the seat belt, and adjust the seat and mirrors to suit themselves. The truck should only ever be operated from the seat. Correct positioning keeps the operator secure and in full control.
It is in the interests of everybody involved in your organisation to ensure that adequate forklift truck safety measures are taken. At Advanced Forklift Training we offer a range of manual handling and forklift help and advice, as well as training either at your location or at our state-of-the-art training centre. We have packages suitable for both instructors and operators and will be happy to discuss your requirements. Please contact us today for more information.
- 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
