The forklift is the unquestionable workhorse in the hectic world of UK logistics and warehousing. However, the safety of even the most advanced equipment depends on the operator. The frequency of forklift refresher training has never been more important as 2026 progresses.
If you’re a warehouse manager or a health and safety officer, you’ve likely heard the “every three years” rule of thumb. But is that actually the law? Or could you be leaving your business-and your staff-at risk by waiting that long?
This guide breaks down the legalities, the best practices for 2026, and the “trigger events” that mean your operators need training now, regardless of what their certificate says.
One of the most common misconceptions in the UK material handling industry is that forklift “licenses” have a fixed expiration date, similar to a car driving license.
The Fact: There is no such thing as a “forklift license” in the eyes of the UK government. Instead, there are Certificates of Training.
Technically, these certificates do not “expire.” However, that does not mean training is a one-time event. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), employers have a legal duty to ensure that all staff are “competent” to perform their tasks.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides the L117 Approved Code of Practice, which is the “bible” for forklift safety. Regarding refresher training, L117 states:
“There is no specific time period after which you need to provide refresher training or formal assessment. However, you may decide that automatic refresher training or a retest after a set period (for example, 3–5 years) is the best way to make sure your employees remain competent.”
While it sounds flexible, the L117 has a special legal status. If a forklift accident occurs and you haven’t followed this guidance, you must prove in court that you achieved safety in an equivalent or better way-which is a very difficult hurdle to clear.
While the HSE suggests a window of 3 to 5 years, 3 years has become the industry gold standard in 2026. Most accredited bodies (such as AITT, RTITB, and Lantra) and insurance providers now view anything beyond three years as a high-risk strategy.
Why 3 Years?
Complacency Creep: Even the best drivers pick up “short-cuts” or bad habits over time-such as traveling with a load too high or failing to use a seatbelt for short distances.
Insurance Compliance: Many UK business insurance policies now include clauses that specifically require proof of operator competence within the last 36 months to honour a claim.
Technological Shifts: Forklifts in 2026 are increasingly integrated with AI, telematics, and automated safety systems. An operator trained in 2022 may not be familiar with the “active” safety interventions found on modern 2026 models.
Routine refresher training is a safety net, but it shouldn’t be your only measure. There are five specific “trigger events” that require immediate retraining, even if the operator was only certified six months ago.
This cannot be negotiated. An operator’s competency is formally questioned if they drop a pallet or clip a racking upright. A refresher course enables an impartial third party (an instructor) to determine if the mistake resulted from a genuine technical breakdown, a bad habit, or a lack in skill.
In 2026, a lot of warehouses in the UK are changing their design to make room for high-density racking or Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Your operators require familiarisation and refresher training to manage the new dangers if your floor design, traffic routes, or “pedestrian-only” zones alter dramatically.
With the January 2026 ABA Category Changes, many machine groupings have been updated. If you’ve upgraded from a standard Counterbalance to a Multi-directional truck, or if your new fleet uses “fingertip” joy-pad controls instead of traditional levers, a one-day refresher/conversion course is essential.
If an operator has been away from the seat for more than six months-due to illness, parental leave, or a change in department-their “muscle memory” and hazard awareness will have faded. A half-day “re-familiarisation” session is the safest way to bring them back onto the floor.
Supervisors should be monitoring drivers daily. If an operator is seen “stunt driving,” speeding, or failing to perform daily pre-shift checks, they should be removed from the truck and put through a refresher course immediately.
View refresher training as an investment rather than a cost. Companies that maintain a strict 3-year schedule typically see:
Operators “really” need refresher training whenever their competence can no longer be guaranteed. While a 3-year cycle satisfies most auditors and insurers, the best managers use a combination of routine cycles and active monitoring.
Would you like me to draft a sample “Forklift Training Policy” document for your employee handbook, or perhaps a checklist for supervisors to use when monitoring daily operator performance?
01708 861 414
