HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992 - APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR TRAINING OPERATORS AND INSTRUCTORS OF POWERED INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCKS (FORKLIFTS)

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by dbqoiu

Approved Code of Practice for training operators and instructors of powered industrial lift trucks (forklifts) under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. Compiled by representatives of forklift training providers and safety bodies and published by the Occupational Safety and Health Service (Department of Labour). Provides an overview of duties under the Act, guidance on hazard management, and detailed requirements for accident prevention, operator selection and supervision, maintenance and inspection, instructor registration, and structured training programmes, including theory tests, pictorial discussion, and practical checklists.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages54

Reading Time2 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

NOTICE OF ISSUE

FOREWORD

SUMMARY OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992

APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE

EMPLOYERS' DUTIES

HAZARD MANAGEMENT

INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES

TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES

ACCIDENTS AND SERIOUS HARM (RECORDING AND NOTIFICATION)

1. GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

POWERED INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCK VEHICLE DEFINED

2. ACCIDENTS AND SERIOUS HARM

CAUSES OF FORKLIFT ACCIDENTS

SAFETY OF NON-OPERATORS

3. MAINTENANCE OF FORKLIFTS

OWNERS' AND MANAGERS' RESPONSIBILITIES

4. INSTRUCTOR REGISTRATION

PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

5. TRAINING PROGRAMMES

PLANNING A TRAINING PROGRAMME

SYLLABUS

APPENDIX A: SAMPLE THEORY TEST

APPENDIX C: PRACTICAL CHECK LIST

APPENDIX D: SUMMARY OF TRAINING COURSE FOR OPERATORS OF FORKLIFTS

HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992 APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR TRAINING OPERATORS AND INSTRUCTORS OF POWERED INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCKS (FORKLIFTS) This code of practice has been compiled by a joint working party of qualified forklift tutors representing members of the New Zealand Forklift Manufacturers and Distributors Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) of the Department of Labour and other interested parties. Published by the Occupational Safety and Health Service Department of Labour Wellington New Zealand August 1995 ISBN 0-477-03577-9 $10.00 (Incl. GST) CONTENTS NOTICE OF ISSUE ......................................................... 5 FOREWORD ................................................................... 6 SUMMARY OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992 .............................................. 7 APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE 7 EMPLOYERS' DUTIES 7 HAZARD MANAGEMENT 7 WHERE THE HAZARD IS SIGNIFICANT 8 INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES 9 EMPLOYERS TO INVOLVE EMPLOYEES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES 9 TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES 9 SAFETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYEES 9 EMPLOYEES DUTIES 9 ACCIDENTS AND SERIOUS HARM (RECORDING AND NOTIFICATION) 10 OTHER LEGISLATION 10 1: GENERAL ................................................................ 11 1.1 INTRODUCTION 11 1.2 POWERED INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCK VEHICLE DEFINED 11 1.3 COMMONLY RECOGNISED NAMES 11 2: ACCIDENT S AND SERIOUS HARM .......................... 12 2.1 CAUSES OF FORKLIFT ACCIDENTS 12 2.2 SAFETY OF NON-OPERATORS 12 2.3 DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS 12 2.4 OPERATOR MONITORING 13 2.5 SELECTION OF OPERATORS 13 2.6 OPERATORS TO OBSERVE SAFETY SYSTEMS 13 3: MAINTENANCE OF FORKLIFTS ............................... 14 3.1 OWNERS' AND MANAGERS' RESPONSIBILITIES 14 3.2 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION 14 3.3 MANUFACTURERS' AND USERS' RECOMMENDATIONS 14 4: INSTRUCTOR REGISTRATION ................................ 15 4.1 PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS 15 4.2 REGISTRATION OF EXISTING INSTRUCTORS 16 4.3 TRAINING PROVIDERS 16 5: TRAINING PROGRAMMES ....................................... 17 5.1 PLANNING A TRAINING PROGRAMME 17 5.2 SYLLABUS 18 5.3 ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE 23 5.4 AUTHORISATION TO OPERATE 23 PART 6: EXTRACT FROM NZS/AS ME/ANSI B56 . 1C: OPERATING SAFETY RULES AND PRACTICES ........... 24 APPENDIX A: SAMPLE THEORY TEST ......................... 32 ANSWERS TO SAMPLE THEORY TEST 36 APPENDIX B: PICTORIAL DISCUSSION PAPER .......... 37 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN PICTORIAL DISCUSSION PAPER 41 APPENDIX C: PRACTICAL CHECK LIST ...................... 42 A. START POSITION 42 B. PICK-UP POSITION42 C. TRAVEL THROUGH COURSE — FORWARD AND REVERSE 42 D. DEPOSIT AND EXTRACT FROM RACKING 42 E. RETURN TO PALLET PICK-UP POSITION 43 F. RETURN FORKLIFT TO ORIGINAL POSITION 43 G. GENERAL 43 APPENDIX D: SUMMARY OF TRAINING COURSE FOR OPERATORS OF FORKLIFTS ....................................... 44 THEORY: OPERATORS' SAFETY CODE 44 APPENDIX E: INSTRUCTORS ...................................... 46 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION 46 2. SELECTION 46 3. TRAINING 47 4. AIMS OF COURSES 47 5. OBJECTIVES OF TRAINING 47 6. CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF INSTRUCTORS 48 APPENDIX F: EXAMPLE OF CERTIFICATION ............... 49 APPENDIX G: EMPLOYER’S WRITTEN AUTHORISATION TO OPERATE FORKLIFT .............................................. 51 EXAMPLE OF A WRITTEN AUTHORISATION TO OPERATE A FORKLIFT 51 APPENDIX H: ACCIDENT S AND SERIOUS HARM (RECORDS AND NOTIFICATION) ................................ 53 APPENDIX I: RELATED DOCUMENTS .......................... 54 NOTICE OF ISSUE I have issued this Approved Code of Practice for Training Operators and Instructors of Powered Industrial Lift Trucks (Forklifts), being a statement of preferred work practices or arrangements for the purpose of ensuring the

FAQs

What is the purpose of this approved code of practice for forklift training?

It provides preferred work practices and arrangements to ensure the health and safety of persons to whom the code applies and anyone affected by activities covered by it.

Does compliance with approved codes of practice follow a mandatory rule?

Compliance with codes of practice is not mandatory, but they may be used as evidence of good practice in court when assessing compliance with relevant duties.

What topics are covered for safe forklift operations and training?

The document addresses hazard management, employer and employee duties, accident and serious harm, operator selection and monitoring, maintenance and inspection, instructor registration, and training programmes including theory and practical assessment materials.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by dbqoiu