Forklift Licence Training

Operating a forklift is classified as high-risk work, meaning a formal High Risk Work (HRW) Licence is a legal requirement in Australia. Mastering this skill requires a blend of technical theory and supervised practical experience. By securing your forklift ticket, you do more than just tick a compliance box. You significantly expand your career horizons and unlock higher-paying roles within Brisbane’s logistics and warehousing sectors.

Anyone involved in the following activities:

• operation of cranes and hoists
• dogging and rigging work
• driving a forklift truck
• erecting or dismantling scaffolding
• operation of boilers or other pressure equipment
• operation of concrete placing booms
• operation of an elevated work platform (boom length 11 metres or more)
• operation of a reach stacker

WorkSafe QLD has an excellent resource for details on Forklift Licence renewal. In summary, your Forklift Licence is renewed every five years, and you will be advised by the licensing authority. You do not need to redo the forklift course as a prerequisite for renewal, but it is important that your expired Forklift Licence is renewed before you continue to operate forklifts.

In a regulatory context, a forklift is defined as a powered industrial truck equipped with an elevating load carriage, typically utilising fork arms or similar attachments to lift, stack, and move materials. Because of the precision required to handle these machines, our training program focuses heavily on mastering the operator’s control and understanding the physical stability of the load carriage. This comprehensive approach ensures you have the practical skills and knowledge to work safely and efficiently on any job site.

In Australia, there are two classes of high-risk work licences for forklifts:

• LF (Forklift Truck): This is the licence needed for most standard forklifts, including those with a mast and fork arms.
• LO (Order Picker): This covers an order picking forklift truck (often called stock pickers). Unlike a standard LF, the operator’s control station on an LO rises with the load handling unit. These are highly recommended for those working in narrow aisle warehouses or furniture warehouses where picking individual items from height is required.

While a High-Risk Work (LF) licence isn’t always required for a pedestrian operated truck or a basic pallet truck (where the operator walks behind or beside the unit), proper training is still highly recommended. Businesses have a duty of care to ensure staff have the knowledge required to avoid accidents.

We offer flexible training options that ensure your team gains the practical components required to minimise damage and injury. Since forklifts are generally referred to as one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment on-site, having forklift operators with verified competency is a non-negotiable asset.