This list can be useful for newer operators or operators who have come from overseas as it explains common abbreviations and acronyms used on and around forklifts. 4-D: Capable of travel forwards/backwards/left/right AC: Alternating Current ACOP: Approved Code of Practice…

Forklift attachments can put additional strain on your forklift and usually derate it, i.e. the forklift can’t lift as much. The attachments are often highly specialised and can be expensive, so you’ll want to look for ones that will fulfil…

Fork extensions, sometimes called ‘slippers’ or ‘tine extensions’, are attachments that are sleeves that fit over the forks to extend their length. They make a forklift more versatile. For example, as long as the rated capacity isn’t exceeded, they can…

If you use your forklift on a road, it needs to be registered, but the definition of ‘road’ is very broad. It includes places that the public has access, whether by right or not. This allows police and other authorities…

A container spec forklift truck is one that can operate inside a standard shipping container – i.e. it can drive into the shipping container and pick up a load on a pallet that’s inside the container without the roof of…

Now’s a good time to check how your operators are doing and that they haven’t acquired any bad habits over the last few months. The following list contains things that forklift operators tend to slide back into doing and need…

A forklift operator’s certificate is a course that teaches forklift operation and safety protocols followed by a practical assessment that includes three types of lifting, manoeuvring, a pre-shift check and correct shutdown procedure. The recommendation in the Approved Code of…

There’s no such thing as a ‘forklift licence’ in New Zealand. People talk about getting a forklift licence and you’ll see companies advertising forklift licences, however, they either mean an F endorsement (which goes on a driver licence) or the forklift…

Forklift operators spend most of their time sitting down and twisting behind them. This creates muscle tension, particularly in the lower back and shoulders, and the risk of physical strains. Despite how it looks, an eight-hour shift sitting down can…

When you do your forklift operator’s certificate course, it’s valid for three years. You have the option to change the time period it’s valid for (i.e. three years is a suggestion in the Approved Code of Practice but is not…

WorkSafe says that “Trainers and supervisors of workers should be competent. They can be in-house or from external organisations.” This gives you a lot of flexibility to ensure that your forklift operators are getting the best training. Sometimes you will…

At the end of a shift, the operator should shut down the forklift safely (tips on the ground, handbrake on, in neutral) and put the keys in a safe place. But how do you decide where to park your forklift?…

If you need to prove to WorkSafe that your operators are qualified to drive your forklifts, you will need to provide some documentation and evidence of this. The main documents or qualifications are: Forklift operator’s certificate or equivalent – the equivalent…

The majority of forklift operators drive in a warehouse-type environment, in a yard or a mixture of both. There are a few other places where forklifts are used less frequently such as docks (for container forklifts) and farms and building…

Forklift vs pedestrian accidents usually don’t turn out well for the pedestrian. As the forklift is heavy, an accident where the pedestrian is run over is always serious and sometimes fatal as the weight simply crushes the pedestrian. The main…