A forklift operator assessment is a record of somebody qualified watching an operator work and judging whether they do it safely: the pre-use check, getting on, driving, picking up and setting down loads, stacking at height, dealing with people on foot, and parking at the end. This form is about the driver, not the truck. Fill it in here and download the signed PDF without an account — or speak while you watch, and the document writes itself.
Why watch the operator, not just the truck
A forklift in perfect condition is still dangerous in the hands of someone who travels with the forks raised, turns with a load at speed, or reverses without looking. Most forklift injuries involve a person on foot, a tip-over or a falling load — and all three come down to how the truck is driven.
A certificate from a course says someone passed once. An observed assessment says how they drive now, in your building, on your trucks, with your loads and your racking. That is why employers repeat it.
When to assess
In the US, OSHA's powered industrial truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178(l)) expects an evaluation of each operator's performance at least once every three years, and a refresher with re-evaluation sooner when an operator is seen driving unsafely, has an accident or near miss, is assigned a different type of truck, or when workplace conditions change. In the UK the HSE's approved code of practice for rider-operated lift trucks sets out training, monitoring and written authorization in a similar spirit. The form asks why this assessment is happening, so the record shows which trigger it answered.
How to mark it fairly
Every item is written as the right way to do it. Mark Correct when you saw it done right, Needs coaching when you saw it done wrong or incompletely, and Not observed when the task never came up — an operator who did not stack at height should not lose marks for stacking. The percentage then reflects only what you actually watched.
Coach on the spot where it is safe to, and note what you said. If you see something dangerous — a raised load swung over a person, a truck driven with a known fault — stop the assessment and record it as stopped.
The outcome
The score helps, but the outcome is the assessor's call: competent, competent with minor coaching given, not yet competent and to be retrained before operating again, or stopped for unsafe operation. When the outcome is anything short of competent, the form asks which areas to retrain, so the trainer knows what to work on and the next assessment knows what to watch.
Common questions
How often do forklift operators need to be evaluated?
Under the US OSHA standard, at least once every three years, and sooner after unsafe operation, an accident or near miss, a change of truck type or a change in the workplace. Many employers assess annually, and when they renew an operator's written authorization.
Who can carry out a forklift operator assessment?
Someone with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and judge their competence — usually a qualified instructor or an experienced supervisor trained to assess. Record how the assessor is qualified on the form.
Is this the same as a forklift inspection?
No. A forklift inspection checks the truck — tires, forks, chains, hydraulics, brakes — before use. This assessment checks the person driving it. Both are needed, and one of the items here is whether the operator does the truck inspection properly.
What happens if an operator is not competent?
They should not operate until they have been retrained and reassessed. Choose the outcome, tick the areas to retrain, and add actions with an owner and a date. Many sites withdraw the written authorization until the reassessment is passed.
Can I use this for reach trucks and pallet stackers?
Yes. Choose the truck type at the start, and mark anything that does not apply to that truck — a seatbelt on a stand-up reach truck, for example — as Not observed.