Course Description
This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to operate a forklift truck safely in accordance with all relevant legislative requirements. Competence in this unit, does not in itself result in a HRWL license to operate this plant.
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 attachments 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 License (HRWL).
This unit requires a person operating a forklift truck to:
plan for the work/task
prepare for the work/task
perform work/task
pack up
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan work/task
- Task requirements are identified from work orders or equivalent and confirmed with relevant people and site inspection is conducted in accordance with workplace procedures
- Work area operating surface is assessed to determine suitability for operational use of forklift truck in accordance with workplace procedures
- Suitability of forklift truck and attachment working load limit (WLL) is determined for the load/s and work/task requirements in accordance with manufacturer requirements and workplace procedures
- Working area is inspected and appropriate paths for operating the forklift truck and moving and placing load/s in work area are assessed and managed in accordance with workplace procedures
- Hazard and risk control measures are identified and reported to relevant person/s in accordance with workplace procedures
- Traffic management plan implementation is confirmed in accordance with workplace procedures
- Appropriate communication procedures are identified with relevant people in accordance with workplace procedures
- All work is confirmed to ensure coverage of work/task requirements for the relevant work area is in accordance with workplace procedures
2. Prepare for work/task
- Consultation with workplace person/s is maintained to ensure work plan is clear and consistent with site requirements in accordance with safe work procedures
- Weather and work environmental conditions are assessed to determine any impact on forklift truck operations in accordance with manufacturer requirements and safe work procedures
- Risk control measures for hazards identified are checked for implementation in accordance with safe work procedures
- Forklift truck is accessed in a safe manner in accordance with manufacturer requirements and workplace procedures
- Forklift truck logbook is checked in accordance with manufacturer, regulatory requirements and safe work procedures
- Pre-start checks are carried out and any damage and defects are reported, recorded and appropriate action is taken in accordance with safe work procedures and manufacturer requirements
- Forklift truck is set up correctly with any relevant attachments as per work plan in accordance with relevant manufacturer requirements including data plate and safe work procedures
- Operational checks are carried out and any damage and defects are reported, recorded and appropriate action is taken in accordance with manufacturer requirements and safe work procedures
- Hazard and risk control measures are checked for implementation and communicated to people in the work area in accordance with safe work procedures
3. Perform work/task
- Weight and positioning of load is assessed to ensure compliance with forklift truck data plate requirements and in accordance with safe work procedures
- Forklift truck is operated safely in accordance with manufacturer requirements and safe work procedures
- Loads are monitored constantly when lifting, moving, lowering and placing to ensure stability of load and avoidance of hazards in accordance with safe work procedures
- Unplanned and unsafe situations are responded to in accordance with safe work procedures
- Loads are picked up, transported and placed using all forklift truck movements in accordance with safe work procedures
- Forklift truck is parked, switched off and isolated appropriately in accordance with manufacturer requirements and safe work procedures
4. Pack Up
- Forklift truck shutdown procedures are carried out in accordance with manufacturer requirements and safe work procedures
- Forklift truck is secured to prevent unauthorized access/use in accordance with safe work procedures