STANDARD + VR Forklift and Warehousing · United Kingdom Updated October 13, 2026

Forklift Operator VR Training: Basic, Specific Job and Familiarisation Training (HSE L117 and PUWER)

VR forklift training scenario on HSE Approved Code of Practice L117 and PUWER regulation 9: basic training, specific job training, familiarisation and written authorisation.

QUICK ANSWER

HSE Approved Code of Practice L117 sets three stages of training for rider-operated lift truck operators: basic training, specific job training and familiarisation, followed by written authorisation from the employer. PUWER regulation 9 makes training a legal duty. VR fits the specific job stage, where operators learn your site before driving it.

What the Rule Requires

HSE L117, Rider-operated lift trucks: operator training and safe use (ACOP and guidance), with PUWER 1998 regulation 9: L117 says operator training should include basic training, specific job training and familiarisation training, and that employers should give operators written authorisation to operate. PUWER regulation 9 requires employers to ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for health and safety purposes.

The scenario follows a new operator who has a basic training certificate but has never worked in this distribution centre. The site has a mezzanine with a pallet gate, narrow aisles with high racking, a ramp to a goods-in yard and a shift change with heavy pedestrian traffic.

Hazards in This Scenario

Operators with basic skills but no site knowledge
Site-specific hazards such as ramps and gates
Pedestrian peaks at shift change
Unauthorised drivers

The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses

Confirm basic training before site training
Learn site routes, speed limits and one-way systems
Practise the site-specific tasks: mezzanine, racking, ramp
Familiarise under supervision
Get written authorisation before working alone
Refresh training when tasks or trucks change

Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch

Starting work without familiarisation
Using routes not in the plan
Speeding at shift change
Driving without authorisation

Competence Assessment Matrix

Decision point	What the assessor sees	Pass standard
Routes	Site rules followed	Followed
Tasks	Mezzanine and ramp	Done safely
Pedestrians	Shift change behaviour	Slows and gives way
Authorisation	Status	Knows they need it

What VR Covers

Specific job training on a digital copy of your site
Consistent assessment
Practice of rare tasks
Records per operator

What VR Does Not Replace

Basic training on a real truck by an accredited provider
Familiarisation under supervision
The employer authorisation

Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot

A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three stages of forklift training in the UK?

Basic training, specific job training and familiarisation, as set out in HSE L117.

Do forklift licences exist in the UK?

No. There is a training certificate and the employer gives written authorisation.

Can VR deliver basic training?

Basic training needs a real truck. VR supports specific job training and refreshers.

Want this scenario built around your site?

We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.

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