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Forklift (LF)

TLILIC0003 Licence To Operate A Forklift Truck

This unit specifies the outcomes required for the operation of a powered industrial truck equipped with a mast and an elevating load carriage to which is attached a pair of fork arms or other attachment, for licensing purposes.

You need a high risk work licence if you want to operate a forklift in NSW.
Forklift (LF)

There are two classes of forklift licences. They are for:

  • A forklift truck equipped with a mast and an elevating load carriage with a pair of fork arms or other attachment (class LF)
  • An order picking forklift truck where the operator’s control elevates with the load carriage/lifting media (class LO)
Forklift Licence Required

Licence Required

No Forklift Licence Required

Not Required

You are eligible to obtain a licence if you:
  • Are at least 18 years of age
  • Complete a recognised training course with a registered training organisation (RTO) and have been assessed as competent by an accredited SafeWork assessor
  • Can use English at a level that enables the safe performance of high risk work

Application Process

Upon completion of your training and high-risk assessment, the assessor will issue you with either an Assessment Summary (AS) or a Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA).

If you receive an AS you will need to complete further study or operator training before resitting the section in which you were found to be not yet competent. This needs to be completed within 90 days of the date of issue of the AS.

If you receive an NSA you will also be issued with a SafeWork application form to be completed and submitted to an Australia Post office along with your 100 points of ID. You will also need to bring with you a passport sized and quality photo of yourself with your name and date of birth printed on the back. Your high-risk forklift licence will be mailed to you by SafeWork within 28 days of receiving your application.

Telehandlers

Do I need a licence to operate a telehandler with a fork attachment?

Telehandler

No. Fitting fork attachments to a Telehandler does not make it a forklift, is just a Telehandler with fork attachments. The business (or employer or other PCBU) still has a duty of care to ensure workers have appropriate training in operating the Telehandler; however a high risk work licence is not required.

Container Fork

Can I use a container fork with my forklift licence?

No. WorkCover have introduced a new High Risk Work Licence for Reach Stacker. A reach stacker incorporates an attachment for lifting, moving and travelling with shipping containers, but does not include a container crane.

Helpful Links

Full Course Description

This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to operate a forklift truck safely.

Forklift truck means a powered industrial truck equipped with lifting media made up of a mast and an elevating load carriage to which is attached a pair of fork arms or other arms that can be raised 900 mm or more above the ground, but does not include a pedestrian-operated truck or a pallet truck.

A person performing this work is required to hold a forklift truck high risk work (HRW) licence.

This unit requires a person operating a forklift truck to plan the work, conduct routine checks on a forklift truck, shift loads in a safe manner, and safely shut down and secure equipment after completing operations.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

This unit is based on the licensing requirements of Part 4.5 of the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, HRW and meets Commonwealth, state and territory HRW licensing requirements.

Any alteration to this unit would result in a unit that would not be acceptable to work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) regulators for the purpose of licensing.

Elements and Performance Criteria

1 Plan work
  • 1.1 Potential workplace hazards are identified
  • 1.2 Risk control measures are identified consistent with regulatory requirements and the hierarchy of control
  • 1.3 Appropriate forklift truck is selected in accordance with load and workplace conditions
  • 1.4 Working area is inspected to determine appropriate paths for moving loads and forklift truck in accordance with workplace conditions
  • 1.5 Methods for communicating are identified and confirmed in accordance with workplace procedures
2 Conduct routine checks
  • 2.1 Prior to operation, forklift truck is visually checked for any damage or defects
  • 2.2 All signage and labels are checked to ensure they are visible and legible, in accordance with the appropriate standard
  • 2.3 All controls are located, identified and confirmed
  • 2.4 Pre-start operational checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 2.5 Forklift truck is started in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures, and is checked for any abnormal noise
  • 2.6 Post-start operational checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 2.7 All forklift truck functions and safety devices are tested to their maximum in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 2.8 Issues, defects and damage identified during routine checks are reported and recorded in accordance with workplace procedures, and appropriate action is taken
3 Shift load
  • 3.1 Weight of load is assessed to ensure compliance with forklift truck data plate specifications
  • 3.2 Appropriate hazard prevention/control measures are implemented and communicated to personnel in the work area
  • 3.3 Forklift truck is operated at a safe speed in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 3.4 Loads are moved and placed to ensure stability of material and avoidance of hazards
  • 3.5 Load movement is monitored constantly to ensure safety of personnel and load, and structural stability
  • 3.6 Unplanned and/or unsafe situations are responded to in accordance with workplace procedures and emergency plans
4 Shut down and secure forklift truck
  • 4.1 Forklift truck is parked to avoid hazards
  • 4.2 Forklift truck is shut down in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 4.3 Routine post-operational forklift truck checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
  • 4.4 Forklift truck is secured to prevent unauthorised access/use
  • 4.5 All defects and damage are reported and recorded in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures, and appropriate action is taken

Training and assessment delivered on behalf of RAISE Training RTO 91655

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