High Risk Work Licence - Order-Picking Forklift (LO) exam-day guide
High Risk Work Licence - Order-Picking Forklift (LO) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used when booking (typically a driver licence or passport). The name must match your booking exactly. If your ID is expired, damaged, or shows a different name, contact the provider before test day - do not assume a digital copy will be accepted.
Booking confirmation and paperwork
Bring your booking confirmation, any enrolment or pre-assessment forms the provider sent, and proof of any prior training. Confirm with the provider whether they need printed copies or accept digital versions.
Closed-in safety footwear
Most providers require steel-cap or safety boots for practical assessment. Confirm the exact footwear standard with the provider - some sites require lace-up boots rather than slip-ons.
Comfortable, site-appropriate clothing
Long trousers and a high-visibility shirt or vest are typical. Avoid loose sleeves, dangling cords, or jewellery that could snag on controls. Confirm the provider's dress requirements.
Know your machine before the day
Be able to name the key controls of the order-picking forklift you will be assessed on: raise/lower, travel, steer, horn, emergency stop, and the operator restraint or harness system. If you trained on a different model, ask the provider whether you can familiarise yourself with the assessment machine beforehand.
Pre-start check routine
Rehearse a full pre-start inspection out loud: visual walk-around, fluid and hydraulic checks, tyres and forks, warning devices, lights, horn, brakes, and the restraint system. Practise narrating each step - assessors score what they can see and hear.
Harness and fall-protection procedure
Order-picking machines require the operator to be secured in the platform or harness before the forks are raised. Practise the correct sequence until it is automatic, including how you check the anchor point and adjust the lanyard.
Load and hazard routine
Practise a consistent sequence for every task: assess the load, check weight and stability, plan the travel path, scan for pedestrians and overhead hazards, sound the horn at blind corners, and park correctly with forks lowered and the key removed.
Arrive early and rested
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your start time to allow sign-in, induction, and a site walk-through. Confirm the arrival time and site address with the provider, including parking and entry-gate procedures.
Ask about breaks and scheduling
Assessment sessions can run several hours. Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled, whether food and water are available on site, and bring your own water and snacks if not.
Ask about interpreter or support needs
If you need an interpreter, extra time, or other adjustments, request them well before test day. Confirm with the provider what is permitted and what documentation they require.
Confirm the assessment structure
Ask the provider to explain in advance what the practical assessment covers - pre-start checks, operational tasks, load handling, shutdown, and any verbal questions - so nothing on the day is a surprise.
Plan the day
Re-read your training notes and the operator manual for the machine type. Walk through the pre-start inspection and the harness sequence from memory, then check your notes. Practise describing hazards and control measures aloud, because assessors mark your spoken reasoning as well as your driving. Confirm your booking time, site address, parking, and what to bring. Check that your ID is current and that your name matches the booking. Get good sleep in the nights leading up to the test rather than cramming.
Do one calm run-through of the full routine - pre-start, mounting and securing, travel, pick and place, parking and shutdown - without over-practising to the point of fatigue. Prepare your clothing and boots, pack your ID and paperwork, and charge your phone. Confirm travel time and allow extra margin for traffic or site check-in. Avoid alcohol and heavy physical work the evening before. If you feel unwell, contact the provider to ask about rescheduling rather than attending impaired.
Eat a proper meal and stay hydrated. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. At sign-in, present your ID and paperwork, listen carefully to the site induction, and ask where the amenities and waiting area are. During any familiarisation opportunity, check the controls, the restraint system, and the horn and emergency stop on the actual assessment machine. Keep your movements deliberate and calm rather than fast.
Listen to each instruction in full before acting. Narrate your safety checks clearly. Complete the pre-start inspection thoroughly even if it feels slow. Secure yourself correctly before raising the platform. Scan constantly, sound the horn at blind spots, and keep loads stable and low while travelling. If you make a mistake, do not rush to compensate - stop safely, reassess, and continue. If you do not understand an instruction, ask the assessor to repeat it. At the end, shut down and park the machine correctly, then ask when and how results will be issued.
Rules to check
Follow every site instruction and the assessor's directions at all times. The assessment site is a live workplace, and unsafe conduct can end the assessment regardless of your operating skill.
Bring original photo ID matching your booking. If you cannot produce acceptable ID, the provider may not be able to assess you - confirm their ID policy in advance rather than assuming.
Mobile phone use, photography, and recording are commonly restricted on site. Ask the provider what is permitted and keep your phone away during the assessment unless told otherwise.
Breaks are usually scheduled by the provider. If you need to stop for water, medication, or the amenities, tell the assessor rather than leaving the machine or assessment area unannounced. Confirm the break policy with the provider.
Scoring is based on the criteria the provider gives you, typically covering pre-start checks, operational control, hazard awareness, load handling, and shutdown. Ask the assessor to explain the marking criteria before you begin if they have not done so.
You may ask the assessor to repeat an instruction, but you must not ask for coaching or hints during the assessment. If an instruction is genuinely unclear, say so plainly.
If you feel unwell, injured, or unfit to operate, tell the assessor immediately. Continuing while impaired is unsafe and may affect your result.
Results and any follow-up requirements are issued by the provider. Confirm with the provider how and when you will be notified, and keep any paperwork they give you.