Overview
Employers may only assign suitable people who have been instructed in their handling to operate pedestrian-operated industrial trucks. In this training you get to know the design, function and driving behaviour of the equipment. Practical exercises teach the safe handling of loads and the correct behaviour when faults or hazardous situations arise.
The instruction must take place before first use and at least once a year thereafter. Written authorisation and a forklift licence are not required for purely pedestrian-operated equipment under § 7 (2) DGUV Vorschrift 68 (an accident-prevention rule issued by the DGUV, the German Social Accident Insurance institutions and their regulations); company rules may set out further requirements.
Legal basis and duties
For purely pedestrian-operated equipment, § 7 (2) DGUV Vorschrift 68 requires a suitable operator instructed in its handling, but in principle neither a forklift licence nor written authorisation. Company requirements may go further. Equipment with a stand-on platform and a design-related maximum speed above 6 km/h falls under the requirements for industrial trucks with a driver’s position.
Boundaries
For pedestrian-operated industrial trucks with a stand-on platform and a design-related maximum speed of more than 6 km/h, the requirements for industrial trucks with a driver’s position under § 7 (1) DGUV Vorschrift 68 apply.
Initial instruction and annual instruction
Initial instruction: participants must be suitable for the work. No particular prior knowledge is required. Completion is the training and instruction record from ADLER Academy; the duration is 6 teaching hours.
Annual instruction: participants have already been instructed on the equipment type in use. Completion is the continuing-education and instruction record from ADLER Academy; the duration is 3 teaching hours.
The stated hourly formats are ADLER course formats. Equipment type, operating environment, prior knowledge and practical exercises determine the binding scope.
Content
- § 12 Arbeitsschutzgesetz and § 12 Betriebssicherheitsverordnung
- Annual instruction to § 4 DGUV Vorschrift 1
- Authorisation to § 7 (2) DGUV Vorschrift 68
- Operating instructions to § 5 DGUV Vorschrift 68
- Accident prevention and on-site traffic rules
- Design, drive and safety devices
- Driving behaviour and vehicle characteristics
- Daily pre-use check to § 9 DGUV Vorschrift 68
- Stability and safe handling of loads
- Behaviour in the event of defects and malfunctions
- Theoretical knowledge test
- Driving and operating exercises
- Practical assessment
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a forklift licence for an electric pallet truck?
For purely pedestrian-operated industrial trucks, § 7 (2) DGUV Vorschrift 68 does not require a forklift licence. The operator must be suitable and instructed in its handling.
What applies with a stand-on platform?
If the design-related maximum speed with a stand-on platform exceeds 6 km/h, the requirements for industrial trucks with a driver’s position apply.
How often must instruction take place?
Before first use and regularly thereafter, at least annually and whenever there are relevant changes to the equipment or operating conditions.