Twelve units make up this qualification, each individually assessed and credited:
1072 Health, Safety and Security at Work
4701 Prepare the Rough Terrain Forklift for Driving or Manoeuvring
4702 Operate, Move or Manoeuvre the Rough Terrain Forklift
4703 Select, Transfer and Position Loads Using a Rough Terrain Forklift
4704 Load the Container, Vehicle, Vessel or Platform Using a Rough Terrain Forklift
4705 Unload the Container, Vehicle, Vessel or Platform Using a Rough Terrain Forklift
4706 Undertake Post-operational Checks on the Rough Terrain Forklift
4707 Obtain Information on the Collection and/or Delivery of Loads
4708 Keep Work Areas Clean
4709 Moving and/or Handling Goods
4710 Sort Goods and Materials for Recycling or Disposal
6831 Loading/Offloading the Rough Terrain Forklift onto Road Freight Vehicles
Theory assessment
71-question written theory test, pass standard 80% (57 of 71). Answered in the candidate’s own handwriting, covering:
Roles, responsibilities and the law
Machine components, stability and the load centre
Pre-use inspection and defect reporting
Travelling technique on gradients and rough terrain
Lifting, transferring and placing loads against the rating plate
Loading and unloading vehicles
Load information, housekeeping and waste segregation
Machine transport on and off road freight vehicles
Parking, shutdown and post-operational checks
The following are safety-critical and must be answered correctly regardless of the overall score:
Hard hat only removed when seated in an enclosed cab or structure meeting FOPS criteria
Lifting operations properly planned and supervised under LOLER 1998
Fork checks: end stops in place, no cracks, within wear limits, straight, latch pins complete and functional
An attachment rested on the ground, unable to fall, before it is changed
Proximity hazards assessed when travelling with a load: uneven terrain, holes, slopes and ramps, overhead obstructions, visibility, personnel, ground conditions
Factors assessed before travelling with a physically large load: machine capability, site permission, route and ground suitability, correct configuration and load stability, environmental conditions, help available, lift plan criteria
Factors known before picking up a load: size, weight, condition and stability, load centre, destination, route and landing condition
Causes of forward tipping: excessive load centre, overload, travelling on slopes, potholes or uneven ground, travelling with the load raised
Heaviest loads placed over the rear axle(s) when loading a flatbed transporter
Practical assessment
Structured exercises, each marked against observed performance criteria. Every criterion must reach competent; any dangerous act terminates the assessment.
Pre-use inspection and preparation to the manufacturer’s specification, covering forks, carriage, backrest, mast and lift chains, tyres, hydraulics, cab and rating plate, with checks recorded and defects reported
Travel and manoeuvre laden and unladen on rough terrain: correct fork and mast travel position, controlled speed, gradient technique, rutted and uneven ground, confined areas, blind corners and site traffic, reversing under observation, pedestrian awareness
Lift, transfer and place loads planned against the rating plate, machine positioned square and as level as the ground allows, clean pallet entry and exit, smooth raising and placing at height, no excessive forward tilt, lowered to travel position before moving off
Load and unload a vehicle: security checks completed first, plan and communication agreed with the driver, loads placed over the axles and against the headboard, stable unloading sequence with shifted or damaged loads identified first, vehicle balance maintained throughout
Load information confirmed before moving loads, work area kept clear of debris and spillages, goods handled without damage with pallet checks made, waste segregated to the correct streams
Machine transport onto and off a transporter: loading checks stated or demonstrated, machine driven on and off under control where facilities allow, left in the correct configuration for securing, responsibilities correctly identified
The assessor deemed Fred Bloggs competent within the stated scope, and the qualification was awarded in August 2026.
The legal position
No UK government body issues a licence to operate a rough terrain forklift, and no statute requires one. The duty to train and assess competence sits with the employer, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 section 2(2)(c) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 regulation 9.
The Approved Code of Practice L117, Rider-operated lift trucks, applies to this machine type and sets out a three-stage training model: basic training, job-specific training, and familiarisation with the particular machine and site. The employer completes this with a written authorisation for that operator to use that machine. LOLER 1998 applies, requiring thorough examination at least every 12 months, or 6-monthly where the equipment lifts people, plus daily pre-use checks by the operator.
The full site evidence statement sets out the basis of the qualification, the assessment decision and the audit trail, for presentation to site management and health and safety personnel.