Forklift operation - licence requirements
This information bulletin outlines the licensing requirements to operate a forklift in the Northern Territory. Theuse of forklift is considered high risk work (HRW) and requires the operator to hold an appropriate licence to perform high risk work issued by NT WorkSafe.
The licensing of workers aims to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to perform high risk work in a safe manner so to reduce the health and safety risk to themselves and other persons in the workplace.
Classes of high risk work (HRW) licences for forklifts
Forklift Truck
- covers the operation of 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 arms that can be raised 900mm or more above the ground but does not include a pedestrian-operated truck or a pallet truck
Order-Picking Forklift Truck
- covers the operation of a forklift truck where the operator’s controls are incorporated with the lifting media and elevate within the lifting media.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a mechanic who repairs and tests forklift trucks. Am I required to hold a forklift licence?
People who maintain, repair, test and service forklifts trucks are not required to hold a licence in certain situations as outlined in the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations:
Regulation 82
(2)A person who carries out high risk work involving plant is not required to be licensed if:
(a)the work is carried out at a workplace solely for the purpose of the manufacture, testing, trialing, installation, commissioning, maintenance, servicing, repair, alteration, demolition or disposal of the plant at that workplace or moving the plant within the workplace; and
(b)the plant is operated or used without a load except when standard weight loads with predetermined fixing points are used for calibration of the plant.
(3)For the purposes of sub regulation (2) (a), moving does not include loading plant onto, or unloading plant from, the vehicle or equipment used to move the plant.
Do you need a ‘car licence’ to operate a forklift?
No, a car licence is not required to operate a forklift, with the exception of when a forklift is operated on a road or in a public place. If this occurs, the forklift operator is required to hold a valid Class C licence.
Applying for a licence
Applications should be made using the form:
- Application for a high risk work licence
Additional Information
The following information on high risk work licensing is available on the NT WorkSafe website.
Guides
- Guide to high risk work licence
Information bulletins
- High risk work licence
- High risk work licensing – Worker obligations
- High risk work licensing – PCBU obligations
- High risk work licensing – Hierarchy requirements
Contact us
For further information please contact us on 1800 019 115, via email at or go to the NTWorkSafe website at
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Forklift operation– licence requirements (V1.1 – 04September 2018)