All letters are printed in there entirety.  You are welcome to reply to any. No matter when they were posted. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy or in-accuracy of the info provided.

Dear Sir or Madam does this cover me to put a fully qualified electrician up in a safety cage to change light bulbs at our depot warehouse, ? have been told it does, but would like a second opinion

Allan

TTT Reply to above letter
Hi Allan
On what you have described then there is no problem.
Full HSE recommendations ect are available in Guidance note PM28 (Second edition)
ISBN 0-7176-1233-3 Cost £6.00 issued in 2000

In principal agree a method of work between you and the fitter. Use the correct type of lifting platform and lift truck. Only use it as a straight lift (do not be tempted to go from one light to the other with forks/fitter in air.) If you can isolate the tilt control on the truck then do so. And stay on the truck in charge at all times. If it is a i.c.e. truck leave the engine running. Note most reach trucks are not recommended as suitable for this operation by there manufactures.

Hope this has been of some help.

Can you be more specific what type of training quote you wish. Is it at your site or at a training school?? and for how many instructors. It has a bearing on being able to get you the best deal. Also which part of the UK are you in?
Regards
Harold Thomas
01832 731261    www.3ttt.info

TTT Reply to above letter
Hi M 
>>What I would like to know is, is it a legal requirement or a recommendation that the instructor must hold the B1, B2, B3>> 
You must hold the ticket of the truck that you are training on. If not then the test at the end is not valid and not done to ITSSAR standards. Also your ticket has to be registered on your instructors badge.
If you are a CAT 1. You can only teach IN-House any way so technically your firm can waver the need for the ticket. But I would get that in writing from your firm that they understand that first before doing any training.

Hope this has been of help. 
Harold 
Thomas Truck Training 
01832 731261 
www.mrforklift.co.uk & www.3ttt.info

>I would like to know if it is a requirement by law that if you instruct trainees outside of your main company that you are required to be registered as a category 2 instructor?>
There is no law that indicates this. But if you want your training to be recognized by accrediting body's then you must go with the flow.

<All the training courses that we run are as the ACOP>
There are no training courses in the ACOP.(Appendex 3 is not detailed enough) There is only a guidance. It also sugests that only body's approved by the HSE can carry out recognized training of a standard that will not be questioned.(Appendex 1) And that training has an agreed standard. HSG6 gives a further guidance in to the practicality's to safely comply with the HSE, training standard.

<and have been asked to instruct for some of our clients.>
In your situation you could possibly do there clients training as IN-House. In the clients name. As you do now. or get a CAT 2 reg.

Let me know how you get on.
Drive safe on your forklift!!
Harold

TTT Reply to above letter     10th April 2001

E.G.    If a member of the general public comes into a training school and asks to be taken on a basic CB/Reach test. Passes that test. Are you going to refuse him a certificate just because you did not train them ??

.........................................................................................................................................................
I am also quite certain that ITSSAR would not like to think that there name was being used to threaten any thing that they were not in control of or could not act upon. !!!  Especially *****
....................................................................................................................

Drive safe on your forklift!!
Harold Thomas
Thomas Truck Training 
www.ttt-services.co.uk or www.mrforklift.co.uk
01832 731261

DEAR SIR,
       I PASSED MY C/B FLT TEST '89 WHILST WORKING FOR THE CO-OP. MYSELF AND TWO WORKMATES WERE SENT TO  HARGREAVES  TRAINING SERVICES AT  TOCKWITH Nr LEEDS FOR 5 DAY COURSE. I WAS ISSUED WITH A SMALL LAMINATED ORANGE CARD C/W MY PHOTO IN ONE CORNER AND THE LETTERS "RTITB" IN THE OTHER. THIS PLASTIC CARD HAS SINCE BEEN STOLEN ALONG WITH WALLET ETC. MY QUERY IS: CAN I STILL DRIVE A FORK TRUCK, CAN I OBTAIN ANOTHER CARD ETC .WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS??? PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUERY AS IT HAS BEEN BUGGING ME FOR A WHILE. THANKYOU,
                                             CRAIG

TTT Reply to above letter

Hi
Thanks for the inquiry Craig.
There is not really any good news in this tail.
The short answer is that you need retrained. You may not need to do the 5 day course if you have been driving recently but you should do a 3 day basic course.

CAN I STILL DRIVE A FORK TRUCK ??
Although it is not illegal for you to drive you must have proof of training and you don't. Under the H&SAWA you have a responsibility to yourself and others in your safe actions. I do not think you can justify this having trained such a long time ago.

CAN I OBTAIN ANOTHER CARD ETC.???
Your training company are only obliged to keep records for a 5 year period. And although they may be able to turn a copy up they should advise you that you should have a refresher every 3 years or so. After a refresher you would be issued with a new licence.
Perhaps you are not aware that the actual proof of training is the certificate that should also have been issued at the time of your training.
Harold

Hi Seamus

Have tried to fix the practical problems with the page but I am at the mercy of Bill Gates and my ignorance in these matters.

I have a copy of the new test and although you comments are very valid I think that we must go forward. As you know training on the lift truck is at best an inconvenience to most employers and to some it is a positive thorn in there side. So much so that they have been known to take it out on the instructor when on the premises. Again we must assume that the employer will only work to the minimum standard. What ever that is. Any thing else is a bonus. He most certainly will stand behind that standard when the "Shit hits the fan" and be happy that he has done the best when relay he has only done the minimum. How many employers want the NVQ2 for there workers never mind prepared to pay for it.?? None in my book. This left the anomaly that workers from the dole were put on courses in training schools. Told to do the 8-10 week course and came out with an NVQ2. And for the rest of us the minimum charge was £700. In fact cynically I think most training companies that geared up for the NVQ saw a way of big money for little work and a decent paper trail. Was it not Barlow Handling that had to give money back to the Government for allegedly watering down the standard of the qualification. Infact they very nearly had there HSE approval removed after investigation.

Thomas Truck Training has the view that we will give as much info to all its candidates over the three days basic because it is assumed that this will be the sum input of all the basic training that the candidate receives over there driving career. To this extent we have a 30 page manual so that if nothing else they have it in writing. (Assuming they can read!!!)

As to the test. I do not have a problem with the extra time or questions. If they can do it what dose it really matter??

I wish that there was space to teach side shift and the new 1 ton swing bags. Apart from some minimal references these things are largely ignored. What about a short lesson on racking?? Or more to the point what to do when you have left the truck in the racking. How to safely extract it. The instructors answer is "ASK THE SUPERVISOR" How many supervisors courses have you had to do. For me the answer is that I have never been asked to even put one on. It must be safe to assume that not all supervisors in industry are aware of the capabilities of the trucks that are under there reemit.

And finally what about refreshers?? Need I say more.

A lot of these problems comes from training companies themselves who are prepared to under cut. (I have been guzumped for £5 per course.) It would in my view be more conducive to a minimum standard of training if the Government laid down guide lines as to a minimum charge for the training and that might take the pressure off the training companies to undercut. It would after a time weed out the cowboys.

Thanks for you comments and I wish you all the best for the future. I would value your opinion if you feel strongly enough to reply.

Harold

You should know better than suggest that all operators of powered pallet trucks require a certificate.
Is TTT a mistake or do you represent FTT
Lansing is a very proud and well respected name, please spell it correctly.

TTT Reply to above letter
Hi All operators in the UK require training before operating a Lift Truck. If it is to be used in industry there has to be proof of training. This proof must be traceable back to the trainer. Not the training company. I find it hard to think of a PPT that dose not have a training need. The strict definition is that it must stack however and there is not many that do not.
However there is also a duty of care with in the H&SAWA even if they were just driven about. There must be some proof of standard of driving. Additionally if used to lift pallets there should be a training need of the principals of balance ect. I personally can see no way around it. But would be happy to understand if there is.

TTT stands for Thomas Truck Training      www.ttt-services.co.uk

Regarding the lancing@ This is not a reflection on the truck. I am certain that the Co would not want me to use there name.

Sorry for the delay in reply.
Drive safe on your forklift
Harold Thomas       Sent 14th January 2000

TTT Reply to above letter

Hi
The manual is in the post.
Below is a copy of the relevant extracts as I see it.
In principal there should not be a problem from the details that you have given me over the phone. The real difficulty comes from an employers angle regarding the operation on site.

I mentioned a firm that will be able to train at their training school
Train-a-lift Ltd Coventry 469027 Ask for Jim Brown or Sue and say you got the referral from "Big H"
Play safe on your fork lift !!
Harold Thomas

From ACoP Rider- operated lift trucksOperator training (ISBN 07177624552)

Selection of people for training
28 Employers should select potential lift-truck operators carefully. Those selected for training need to have the ability to do the job in a responsible manner and the potential to become competent operators. Operators of lift trucks on docks premises must be aged at least 18 years. For advice on the Docks Regulations 1988 see Safety in docks (details in Further reading section). Young persons (under 18 years of age) are often exposed to risks to their health and safety when using work equipment as a consequence of their immaturity, lack of experience or absence of awareness of existing or potential risks. Therefore, such young people should not be allowed to operate lift trucks without adequate supervision unless they have the necessary competence and maturity, as well as having successfully completed appropriate training. For more information see The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 135) which applies to young workers aged under 18 years and Young people at work - A guide for employers which gives guidance on the Regulations. Children under minimum school leaving age should never operate lift trucks.

Hi,
I have taken and passed a fork lift course in the armed forces for pedestrian and rider operated fork lifts to 4000lbs.
I was issued a certificate but I have to use a civilian licence now. Could you tell me if possible how I change this certificate to a licence.

TTT Reply to above letter
Technically you should have no need to do this as I assume that the forces use the same standards of training as we civies.
The licence/certificate you have is to prove, should you have an accident your standard of training. A good employer should know this and see what you are offering as an advantage.
Now in the real world................
There is no time limit on the certificates that you hold but it is now recommended that you have a refresher every 3-5 years. This should be supplied by the company you work for. For all the "small stuff" it will be a day's course. These courses are available at all training schools if you cross there palms with silver. The training school will recognize you training and be happy to do this for you.
If you have a problem please get back to me and I will sort something out if you are in my aria. This is a way of "converting" licences.

Most firms who operate PPT like the one you refer to have an in house instructor that will pass you out, for the firm. What ever the arrangements that the firm make for their training it is important that they issue you with written permission to operate the truck. If the worst happens then this is your first line of defence in the courts.
Some firms operating small PPT are under the impression that they do not even need any training on them. This is wrong. If the truck can stack a pallet or has a motor. It has a training need.

Drive safe on your fork lift !!
Harold Thomas
Phone 01832 731260      www.ttt-services.co.uk
P.S. Lots of instructors of Lift Trucks are ex-forces.

The new test is described in some detail on my web page at  ITSSAR-AITT Test Info

If you live in the Coventry area I can get you in on a course at short notice.
Play safe on your fork lift !!
Harold Thomas

I would like to know how old i would have to be in order to take my test to gain the right qualifications to drive a forklift. E.g Car driving licence age is 17 but how old is the forklift one.

Harold Thomas 

28 Employers should select potential lift truck operators carefully. Those selected for training need to have the ability to do the job in a responsible manner and the potential to become competent operators. Operators of lift trucks on docks premises must be aged at least 18 years. For advice on the Docks Regulations 1988 see Safety in docks (details in Further reading section). Young persons (under 18 years of age) arc often exposed to risks to their health and safety when using work equipment as a consequence of their immaturity, lack of experience or absence of awareness of existing or potential risks. Therefore, such young people should not be allowed to operate lift trucks without adequate supervision unless they have the necessary competence and maturity, as well as having successfully completed appropriate training. For more information see The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 135) which applies to young workers aged under 18 years and Young people at work  A guide for employee which gives guidance on the Regulations. Children under minimum school leaving age should never operate lift trucks.

29 Those selected should have the necessary level of physical and mental fitness and learning ability for the task. People with disabilities may well be able to work safely with lift trucks. In cases where a disability is potentially relevant to the safe operation of lift trucks, employers should seek medical advice on a case by case basis. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 may apply. For an explanation of employers' duties under this Act see the Department for Education and Employment's Code of Practice (details in Further reading section). Further information on medical considerations is given in HSE's booklet HSG6 Safety in working with lift tracks (see Further reading section).

30 Where employees claim to be trained and experienced, employers should insist upon evidence. Employers need to satisfy themselves that the training, experience and ability is in fact sufficient and relevant to the lift trucks and handling attachments to be used. Where evidence, such as a training certificate, is not available, employers will need to arrange assessment of the person's competence and provide any training which the assessment indicates is necessary before allowing the employee to operate a lift truck.

31 It may be useful to apply a selection test to avoid wasteful attempts to instruct unsuitable trainees. Advice on trainability assessment can be obtained from the bodies listed in Appendix 1.

Regards
Harold Thomas
Thomas Truck Training
01832 731261 www.3ttt.info