Forklift trucks: Driving training forward

When it comes to choosing forklift training providers, there are many to choose from, and there is added confusion around whether ‘in-house’ or accredited training is the best choice. To select the right training for your business, it’s important to understand what the differences are.

Accredited training refers to courses which are externally validated as meeting certain requirements, in terms of content and legal compliance.  These may take place on or off site.  It can also refer to a course that a company has specifically developed with an accredited training provider tailored to the needs of their operations.  

In-house training may be developed by the company themselves or brought in from an external provider to provide an ‘in-house only’ certificate. While these courses may cover a wide range of topics and be delivered by a confident instructor, they are not guaranteed to demonstrate a required level of compliance with workplace safety legislation or training standards. 

Compliance is one of four key reasons why making the right choice of forklift training is crucial.

• Training must meet legal requirements

While in-house forklift training may be delivered by an experienced instructor who is registered with the appropriate industry bodies, this does not mean that the training is compliant with PUWER Regulation 9, which requires companies to provide ‘adequate training’. Accreditation of a company, whether a training provider or the employer themselves, ensures that the training complies with relevant legislation and Codes of Practice. 

• Standards must not slip

Companies may deliver what appears to be a good level of in-house training. However, with accredited training, training providers are annually audited to help prevent the bad habits and shortcuts that can creep in over time. Audits help to monitor compliance standards and identify areas for improvement by the training provider, giving companies reassurance of training quality.  

• If there’s an incident, you need an audit trail 

In the event of a workplace transport incident, in-house training may not offer the protection of a clear audit trail demonstrating that the company has done what is required by law. Accredited training offers a clear record of what was covered, the training duration and demonstrates that testing took place under the proper conditions. This means that businesses and their employees can prove that high quality training has been provided and appropriate safety measures have been taken.

• The right training improves safety and efficiency

Compared to in-house training, accredited training is usually delivered over a longer period and includes more in-depth theory and practical lessons to equip operators with the relevant skills. Testing is also standardised and controlled giving peace of mind that once trained, operators will be safer, more accurate and more efficient. In-house courses may not cover all the required topics for skilled and safe forklift operation and testing cannot be guaranteed to have been administered correctly or fairly. 

Choosing the wrong training option can carry big risks, compromising both compliance and safety within the business so it’s vital to consider all the above when selecting materials handling equipment training.  Employers must ensure they ask the right questions about training at the outset to ensure they will benefit from legal compliance and the safest workplace transport operation possible.