When it comes to your fleet, your most valuable assets aren’t your forklifts — it’s the people behind the controls. Because without proper training, even the best equipment can become a liability.
A poorly trained operator can cause accidents, injuries, and serious damage — not just to goods, but to people and reputations. Ignoring training could easily land your business in legal trouble.
The fix? A business is only as strong as its people. That’s why investing in comprehensive forklift driver training isn’t just about compliance - it’s about safety, efficiency, and protecting what matters most. Train your operators well, and you’ll not only improve safety but boost efficiency and productivity too.
Well-trained operators are safer, more confident, and more productive, reducing risks to themselves, their colleagues, and your business.
Make forklift safety a priority. Read on...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) breaks training into three key stages:
These three steps ensure your operators are safe, competent, and ready to work. Without them, risks multiply.
It’s an often-overlooked aspect, but even experienced operators need regular refresher training. And the reason it gets overlooked is because there's no legal requirement to do it at set intervals.
But at the end of the day, a truck is only as good as the driver, and even a single change of load or equipment can present them with a whole different set of operating conditions. Over time, bad habits creep in. People cut corners, get too comfortable, or forget best practices. A refresher course brings them back up to speed.
It’s important to understand your operational risks and how they change — this helps you decide when to schedule refresher training. While 3–5 years is the general guideline, your business may need a different approach.
You should also schedule training when:
Refresher training keeps standards high and accidents low. It also helps businesses comply with UK forklift safety regulations.
Workplace transport incidents, including forklift accidents, remain a significant concern in the UK. According to the HSE, vehicle overturns account for nearly a fifth of all deaths in workplace transport accidents. Forklifts are among the vehicles most prone to overturning.
Furthermore, the HSE reports that every year there are over 5,000 incidents involving transport in the workplace, with around 50 of these resulting in fatalities. These statistics highlight why comprehensive forklift operator training is crucial — not just to avoid injuries but to protect businesses from downtime, legal consequences, and financial loss.
Skipping training might seem like a way to save time and money. It’s not. Untrained operators are more likely to have accidents. It’s not worth the risk.
On the other hand, trained operators work smarter. They complete tasks faster, handle equipment more efficiently, and avoid expensive mistakes.
In short, training pays for itself.
It’s not just about operators. Managers and supervisors need training too. They should know how to spot unsafe practices, enforce site rules, and support a strong safety culture.
Forklift safety isn’t just the operator’s responsibility — it starts at the top. Managers and supervisors set the tone for safety standards, risk management, and team expectations. Without proper training, they may miss unsafe practices, fail to enforce site rules, or struggle to build a company-wide culture of accountability.
If they don’t understand forklift safety, how can they ensure their team does?
Supervisors must be able to understand equipment capabilities, identify potential hazards, and know when to step in. They should also check that operators consistently follow best practices, not just immediately after training. When managers and supervisors are well-informed, safety becomes instinctive in the business — not an afterthought.
Even businesses that invest in training sometimes make critical mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
To make your training programme as effective as possible, consider these steps:
Proper forklift training is never just about ticking a box — it’s about protecting people and keeping everything running smoothly. Investing in good training means fewer accidents, lower costs, and a more productive team.
If you’re serious about safety, make sure your operators have the right skills. Not just once, but all throughout their careers.
Want to know more about training? Contact our team or call: 0845 3713048.