Forklift Safety Awareness Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Forklift risks and who may drive

Forklifts (lift trucks) move heavy loads in warehouses, plants, yards and stores. The mast, the load or stacked goods can block the driver's view, so both drivers and people on foot are at risk.

Common causes of forklift incidents

• Too much speed, poor turning or braking, and riding with the load raised
• Unstable, damaged or overweight loads, or loads that block the view
• Pedestrians in work areas, cluttered aisles and blind intersections
• Poor maintenance or faulty brakes, steering or mast
• Not enough operator training, unfamiliar routes, horseplay and people riding on the truck or load

Who may operate a forklift

Only trained and authorized workers should operate a forklift. Each province and territory sets the details. For example:

• Ontario: Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments) requires the operator to be a competent person. Ontario's guideline says the employer should keep a record for each competent operator showing the skills shown, the truck class assessed, the assessor and the date.
• British Columbia: lift trucks must meet CSA B335-15, Safety standard for lift trucks, and operator training must meet Clause 6 of that standard.
• Some jurisdictions also set a minimum age for operators.

This course is background knowledge only. It is not operator training. To drive a forklift you need training and evaluation that meet your province's rules, and your employer's authorization.

Lesson 2: Daily checks

Check a forklift every day, at the start of each shift, before use. In BC, the operator must inspect mobile equipment before it is first used on a shift. The check has two parts.

Report any problem to your supervisor right away. Do not make repairs or adjustments unless you are authorized.

Lesson 3: Loads, stability and ramps

Every forklift has a maximum load limit shown on its data plate. Never go over it. The safe limit goes down as the load is raised, and a raised load makes the truck less stable.

• Keep the load close to the front wheels. Put the heavier end of an uneven load nearest the front wheels and tilt the mast back.
• Forks should reach at least two-thirds of the load's length.
• Raise or lower the forks only when the truck is stopped and braked.
• Travel with the forks low and tilted back, about 10 to 15 cm above the floor.
• Check overhead clearance before you raise a load.
• Do not lift a load that sticks up above the backrest unless no part of it can slide back toward you.
• If a load is not secure, re-stack it or strap it to the skid before you move it.

Ramps and turns

• On a grade over 5%, a loaded truck keeps the load pointing uphill.
• An unloaded truck keeps the forks pointing downhill.
• Do not turn on a ramp, and do not raise a load on a slope.
• Slow down at corners and never turn sharply at speed.

Operator safety

• Wear the seat belt or operator restraint whenever one is fitted.
• Do not carry passengers unless the truck is designed for a second person.
• If the truck overturns, stay in the truck.

Lesson 4: Forklifts and people on foot

Good traffic management keeps people and forklifts apart. Common controls are:

• Separate, marked walkways and barriers such as bollards or fences
• Zones where forklifts or pedestrians are not allowed
• Speed limits, and a rule that trucks stop at intersections
• Convex mirrors and warning lights at blind intersections
• Agreed hand and horn signals
• High-visibility clothing for pedestrians where needed

If you are on foot

• Use the marked walkways and crossings.
• Make eye contact with the driver before you cross a truck's path.
• Keep a safe distance and stay clear of reversing trucks.
• Never stand or walk under raised forks, whether they are loaded or empty.

Drivers should know their blind spots and stop whenever someone crosses their route.

Employers should make a written traffic management plan with input from the health and safety committee or representative, operators and pedestrians. Contractors and visitors should be told about it, and drivers and pedestrians trained on the site's rules.

Lesson 5: Docks, batteries and leaving the truck

Loading docks

• Make sure the truck or trailer brakes are set and the wheels are chocked, or a trailer restraint is used.
• Check that the dock plate is in place, secure and able to carry the forklift and load.
• Check the trailer floor for holes, weak spots and spills.
• Stay clear of dock edges. Do not park a forklift within 3 metres of railway tracks.

Battery charging

Charging lead-acid batteries gives off hydrogen gas, which can explode. Charge only in approved, well-ventilated areas and keep sparks, flames and smoking away. An eyewash station and safety shower should be in the charging area, because battery acid burns skin and eyes. Only trained and authorized workers should handle batteries.

Leaving the truck and lifting people

Do not leave a forklift unattended while it is running or loaded. BC's rules say the operator must secure the truck against movement before leaving the controls, and must not leave a raised load unless it is landed or secured.

Never lift a person on bare forks or a pallet. People may be raised only on a work platform made for this purpose, attached as the manufacturer directs, with guardrails, and with the operator at the controls the whole time.