Answer to Question 2:

Hi Caitriona

Manual Handling refresher training should be completed every three years in accordance with the Health and Safety Authority Guidelines on Manual Handling Training

With regard to automated pallet trucks there is no specific requirement to provide refresher training after set intervals. However, even trained and experienced operators need to be re-assessed from time to time to ensure that they continue to operate the pallet trucks safely. This assessment, which should form part of your company’s normal monitoring procedures and be formally timetabled to ensure that it is done at reasonable intervals, will indicate whether any further training is needed.

In addition to routine safety monitoring, re-assessment might be appropriate where operators have not used pallet trucks for some time, are occasional users, appear to have developed unsafe working practices, have had an accident or near miss, or experience a change in their working practices or environment.

Employers can, of course, decide that automatic retraining after a set period of time (usually every 3 years) is the best way of ensuring that employees are adequately trained, but where this approach is adopted, it will still be necessary to monitor performance in case retraining is required before the set period ends. The guiding principle is that employers need to maintain the competence of operators to use lift trucks safely through a laid down, formal process of monitoring and assessment.

Training will not in itself ensure the competence of individuals: this will develop with experience and should be monitored. Continued supervision will be necessary to ensure that good standards of operation are maintained