Health and Safety Executive

FAQs

What license do I need to operate mobile plant in the workplace?

There are no government issued licenses for vehicles at work, the law requires that each operator is given adequate training by their employer so that they are competent to operate the machinery which they use (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; regulation 9).

Who are the 6 accrediting bodies for lift truck training?

The six bodies are:

[Back to top]

How do I contact these bodies?

Lantra Awards
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG

Tel: 024 7641 9703
Fax: 024 7641 1665

Website: www.lantra-awards.co.uk
e-mail: awards@lantra.co.uk

National Plant Operators Registration Scheme
PO Box 204
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 7FY

Tel: 01606 49909
RTITB Limited
Access House
Halesfield 17
Telford
TF7 4PW

Tel: 01952 520200
Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register
Armstrong House
28 Broad Street
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG40 1AB

Tel: 0118 989 3229
Association of Industrial Truck Trainers
Unit 20
The Springboard Centre (Coalville) Limited
Mantle Lane
Coalville
Leicestershire
LE67 3DW

Tel: 01530 277 857
Construction Industry Training Board
Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH

Tel: 01485 577 577
or 01485 577 877

I work for a company which runs its own in house training scheme which is not accredited by any of these bodies. Is this legal?

As long as the training you are given means that you are competent to operate the machinery you use safely, then there is no absolute legal duty to use the accredited system.

[Back to top]

I operate plant other than lift trucks, what is the licensing system for that?

There is no HSE approved system for training plant operators other than lift truck operators. There is still a legal duty for every employer to ensure that their employers are adequately trained for the machinery they operate (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 regulation 9), there are many different schemes in operation, each employer should satisfy themselves that training under the schemes they accept means that operators are competent to use each piece of equipment that they will be required to operate.

My employer will not accept my training certificate as valid, and is insisting that I retrain to a different scheme. Is this legal?

Employers are entitled to require their plant operators to be trained to any scheme which they think is appropriate to their workplace, as long as completion of the training certificate the company chooses means that employees are competent to operate the mobile plant they will be using.

For rider operated lift trucks, the HSE recognizes each of the six accrediting bodies equally, but has no powers to dictate to companies which of the schemes they accept.

Do I need a valid UK car driving license in order to operate plant in the workplace?

No, driving a car and operating mobile plant are very different tasks, although they use some of the same skills. There is no legal requirement for plant operators to hold a road driving license unless they wish to drive their vehicles on the public highway. All plant driven on the public highway must comply with the appropriate road traffic legislation.

[Back to top]

I have moved jobs and lost my lift truck training certificate. Can I get a copy from HSE?

There is no state system for training of lift truck operators as there is for drivers on the public highway. There is therefore no central organisation which holds copies of training certificates. To obtain a duplicate of your certificate of basic training you will need to contact the training provider who trained you and issued the original, or your previous employer, or the body which accredited the training. If you cannot obtain a duplicate then your new employer may wish to have you assessed and re-tested.

It is over three years since I did my basic lift truck training. My employer has refused to send me on refresher training. Is he obliged to provide additional training?

There is no specific requirement to provide refresher training after set intervals, but even trained and experienced lift truck operators need to be re-assessed from time to time to ensure that they continue to operate lift trucks safely. In addition to routine safety monitoring, re-assessment might be appropriate where operators have not used trucks for some time, are occasional users, appear to have developed unsafe working practices, have had an accident or near miss, or there is a change in their working practices or environment.

I have never had any formal training to drive a lift truck. What are the legal requirements?

Your employer has a general duty under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to provide information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 employers are required to "ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken." The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also places duties on employers to provide training for lift truck operators. By not providing you with any training at all, your employer could be breaking the law.

[Back to top]

Quick links

Ask an expert 0845 345 0055

Health and Safety Executive
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly CF83 3GG

Directgov - Business Link

18.11.09