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CSCS Counterbalance Forklift study materials
CSCS Counterbalance Forklift study resources

CSCS Counterbalance Forklift practice questions

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Question 1Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Under Irish safety and health law, who must ensure that a counterbalance forklift operator has received adequate training and is authorised before operating a truck on a site?

  1. The employer or site management. Correct answer.
  2. The supplier of the forklift truck.
  3. The Health and Safety Authority.
  4. The operator's trade union representative.

Explanation

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places the primary duty on the employer to provide information, instruction, training and supervision, and to ensure that only competent, authorised people use work equipment. The operator must co-operate and apply that training, but arranging and verifying it rests with the employer. The Authority enforces and advises; it does not train or authorise individual operators.

Question 2Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

During the pre-use check, an operator finds that the service brake on the counterbalance truck is not holding. What should the operator do?

  1. Adjust the brake and continue if it holds when the truck is empty.
  2. Report the fault at the end of the shift so the next operator is aware.
  3. Take it out of service, report the fault and leave it until repaired. Correct answer.
  4. Record the fault on the checklist and continue the shift at reduced speed.

Explanation

A defective service brake makes the truck unsafe to use, so the operator must stop using it and report it promptly. The 2005 Act requires employees to take reasonable care and to report defects, and work equipment must not be used where its safety is compromised. Leaving the truck available, or driving it slowly, keeps an unsafe machine in service.

Question 3Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Who must pay for the high-visibility clothing and safety footwear that an employer requires a forklift operator to wear on site?

  1. The operator, because personal clothing is the individual's responsibility.
  2. The employer, who must supply the required PPE free of charge. Correct answer.
  3. The site client, because the operator works on their premises.
  4. The cost is shared equally between employer and operator.

Explanation

Personal protective equipment required for the work must be provided by the employer at no cost to the employee, and the operator must then wear it and take reasonable care of it. The duty cannot be passed to the operator or to a client as a condition of being allowed to work. Charging the operator would undermine the employer's duty to control risk.

Question 4Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A supervisor asks an operator to lift a pallet whose weight, at the required load centre, is greater than the rated capacity shown on the truck's data plate. What is the correct response?

  1. Lift the load with a banksman guiding, as long as it is only moved a short distance.
  2. Refuse the lift and report the overload to the supervisor. Correct answer.
  3. Lift the load with the forks raised higher than normal to reduce the load on the mast.
  4. Lift the load slowly with the mast tilted fully back to move the centre of gravity.

Explanation

The rated capacity on the data plate is the maximum the truck may handle at the stated load centre, and exceeding it makes the truck unstable and liable to tip. The operator must not lift the load and must escalate the problem so the load is split or a suitable truck is provided. Mast tilt, fork height or a banksman cannot raise the truck's capacity.

Question 5Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A site has repeated near misses between counterbalance trucks and pedestrians in a loading yard. Which control gives the most reliable reduction in the risk of a pedestrian being struck?

  1. Issuing high-visibility vests to all visitors and asking them to stay alert.
  2. Requiring operators to sound the horn continuously while in the yard.
  3. Displaying warning signs at the yard entrance.
  4. Physically separating pedestrian walkways from truck routes with barriers and gates. Correct answer.

Explanation

The hierarchy of control prefers eliminating or physically separating a hazard over relying on warnings or human behaviour. Barriers and gates that keep pedestrians out of truck routes remove the opportunity for contact instead of depending on people noticing each other. Signs, high-visibility clothing and horns are useful supporting measures but are easily ignored or missed.

Question 6Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, when must work equipment such as a counterbalance forklift be inspected?

  1. Only when the manufacturer's service schedule reaches a 12-month interval.
  2. Only when a new operator is assigned to the truck.
  3. Only after an accident involving the equipment.
  4. At suitable intervals and after exceptional circumstances affecting safety. Correct answer.

Explanation

The Regulations require work equipment to be inspected at suitable intervals and after any exceptional circumstances that may have jeopardised its safety. The interval is set by risk assessment, manufacturer guidance and intensity of use rather than by a fixed annual service alone. This formal inspection is separate from the operator's daily pre-use check.

Question 7Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

How should a counterbalance forklift be left when the operator parks it and leaves it unattended on level ground?

  1. Forks on the floor, mast tilted back, parking brake off and key removed.
  2. Engine running and the parking brake released so it can be moved quickly.
  3. Forks on the floor, mast tilted forward, parking brake on and key removed. Correct answer.
  4. Forks raised, transmission in neutral and the key left in the switch.

Explanation

A parked counterbalance truck should have its forks lowered to the floor, the mast tilted slightly forward, the parking brake applied, the transmission in neutral, the engine stopped and the key removed. This prevents the truck rolling, the forks descending on someone, and unauthorised use. Leaving the key in place or the brake off defeats those protections.

Question 8Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Which of the following is a specific duty placed on an employee by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005?

  1. To notify the Health and Safety Authority of reportable accidents and dangerous occurrences.
  2. To provide personal protective equipment free of charge to other employees on the site.
  3. Not to be under the influence of an intoxicant to the extent of endangering others. Correct answer.
  4. To prepare and revise the site safety statement and bring it to employees' attention.

Explanation

The Act sets out employees' duties, which include not being under the influence of an intoxicant to the extent of endangering themselves or others, taking reasonable care, and reporting defects. Preparing the safety statement, providing PPE and notifying the Authority are employer duties. Both parties must co-operate, but the duty described in the question belongs to the employee.

Question 9Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A delivery driver arrives with a valid counterbalance forklift certificate issued abroad and offers to unload their own lorry on a busy site. What is the correct position?

  1. The driver may unload if a banksman watches and the yard is closed to pedestrians.
  2. The driver may unload if the load is below half the truck's rated capacity.
  3. The certificate is valid in Ireland, so the driver may unload without further checks.
  4. The driver must be authorised, familiarised with site rules and assessed on the truck. Correct answer.

Explanation

A forklift certificate shows the holder has been trained to a recognised standard, but it does not authorise them to operate on any particular site. The employer or site controller must authorise the operator, provide site-specific information, and ensure familiarisation with the actual truck and local traffic rules. Until that happens the driver should not operate, and the site should arrange unloading another way.

Question 10Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An operator reports that the horn and reversing alarm are not working. The supervisor tells them to keep working because the truck is needed. Which statement best describes the operator's position under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005?

  1. The operator may continue if a colleague acts as a banksman for the shift.
  2. The operator may continue if the work is limited to daylight hours.
  3. The operator must follow the supervisor's instruction because the supervisor represents the employer.
  4. The operator must not use the truck and is protected for reporting the defect. Correct answer.

Explanation

Employees must take reasonable care, co-operate with the employer and report defects, and they must not use equipment that is unsafe. A supervisor's instruction cannot override those duties, and the Act protects employees from penalisation for reporting breaches or complying with the legislation. Operating a truck with no horn or reversing alarm creates a serious risk in a shared yard.

Question 11Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, what must an employer prepare to document how counterbalance forklift hazards on a site are controlled?

  1. A copy of each operator's current driving licence and training certificate
  2. A daily delivery schedule for the warehouse and loading bay
  3. A written safety statement with relevant risk assessments Correct answer.
  4. A supplier's brochure for every forklift model held on site

Explanation

The 2005 Act requires employers to prepare a written safety statement based on identified hazards and risk assessments; for forklift work it should set out the controls, responsibilities and arrangements. It is not a substitute for operator licensing records or supplier literature.

Question 12Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

In forklift maintenance, what does 'competent person' mean under Irish safety and health law?

  1. A person nominated by the employees to act as their safety representative on site
  2. A person employed by the forklift manufacturer to carry out warranty repairs
  3. A person who holds a current counterbalance forklift operator certificate issued by an approved training provider
  4. A person with the training, experience and knowledge to perform the task safely Correct answer.

Explanation

A competent person is someone who has the necessary training, experience and knowledge to carry out the particular maintenance or inspection task safely and correctly. Holding an operator certificate or being a safety representative does not by itself make a person competent to repair or inspect a forklift.

Question 13Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An employer provides a seat belt on a counterbalance forklift. What is the operator's duty regarding that seat belt?

  1. Use it only when driving on public roads or in areas open to the public
  2. Remove it if it slows down loading operations or restricts movement
  3. Wear it whenever the truck is in motion, in line with training and instructions Correct answer.
  4. Ask the supplier to confirm whether it is optional for counterbalance trucks

Explanation

Where a seat belt or restraint is provided, the operator should use it as instructed; it is there to keep the operator within the protective structure in an overturn or impact. Removing it or treating it as optional defeats that protection and is not a decision for the operator.

Question 14Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A warehouse introduces a new counterbalance truck with a different control layout and a side-shift attachment. What should the employer do before operators use it?

  1. Rely on the operators' existing counterbalance certificates and experience
  2. Allow a trial period and review the situation after one month of use
  3. Update the risk assessment and provide familiarisation training on the specific truck Correct answer.
  4. Ask the supplier to deliver a toolbox talk on the day of use

Explanation

New equipment or attachments can change capacity, visibility, controls and risks, so the employer must review the risk assessment and provide information, instruction and training for that truck. An existing certificate for another counterbalance model does not by itself make an operator competent on the new controls.

Question 15Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A risk assessment identifies a blind corner where counterbalance trucks and pedestrians could meet. Which action best follows the hierarchy of control?

  1. Put up a warning sign asking pedestrians to listen for horns
  2. Physically separate the pedestrian route from the truck route Correct answer.
  3. Issue high-visibility vests to all pedestrians and visitors
  4. Instruct operators to sound the horn more frequently at the corner

Explanation

The hierarchy of control requires risks to be eliminated or reduced at source where reasonably practicable; physical separation removes the chance of contact. Signs, high-visibility clothing and extra horn use are lower-level measures that rely on behaviour and do not remove the hazard.

Question 16Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An operator certified on one counterbalance model is asked to drive a different model with joystick controls they have never used. What is the correct response?

  1. Use it only for short lifts until the end of the week
  2. Ask a colleague to watch and give verbal instructions during the first shift
  3. Operate it slowly until they get used to the controls
  4. Ask for familiarisation and authorisation on that model before operating it Correct answer.

Explanation

Competence is specific to the equipment and its controls; the operator should not use an unfamiliar truck until the employer has provided familiarisation and authorised them on that model. Informal coaching or short lifts do not replace that process.

Question 17Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

What is the purpose of keeping records of forklift inspections and maintenance?

  1. To transfer legal responsibility for defects to the maintenance provider
  2. To show that work equipment has been maintained and inspected as required Correct answer.
  3. To allow the employer to charge maintenance costs to the operator
  4. To replace the need for a daily pre-use check by the operator

Explanation

Records provide evidence that work equipment has been inspected and maintained in line with the employer's arrangements and legal duties, and they help track defects and follow-up. They do not transfer responsibility to a maintenance provider or replace the operator's pre-use check.

Question 18Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A contractor's counterbalance truck arrives on a shared construction site with no maintenance records and a visibly damaged overhead guard. What should the host employer do?

  1. Stop its use until verified safe and contractor duties are coordinated Correct answer.
  2. Record the damage and allow use until the contractor's next scheduled visit
  3. Ask the operator to sign a disclaimer before starting work
  4. Allow unloading to continue because the contractor owns the truck and employs the operator

Explanation

The host employer and contractor must cooperate and coordinate their safety arrangements on a shared site; visibly damaged or undocumented equipment should not be used until its safety is verified. Ownership of the truck does not remove the host employer's duty to control risks in the area.

Question 19Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

If a counterbalance forklift starts to tip over, what should the operator do?

  1. Climb out onto the overhead guard
  2. Stand up and try to pull the steering wheel to correct the tilt
  3. Stay in the seat, brace and lean away from the fall Correct answer.
  4. Jump clear of the truck before it goes over

Explanation

The operator should stay restrained in the seat, hold on, brace their feet and lean away from the direction of the fall. Staying inside the protective structure reduces the risk of being crushed; jumping or climbing out can put the operator under the truck or falling mast.

Question 20Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A counterbalance truck must work near overhead power lines. What is the correct safety and legal approach?

  1. Ask the operator to keep the mast lowered and watch the lines
  2. Assume the lines are insulated because they are at height
  3. Carry out the lift quickly to reduce the time near the lines
  4. Consult the utility, establish safe clearance and use barriers or goalposts Correct answer.

Explanation

Overhead lines are a potentially fatal hazard, so the employer must identify the risk, consult the utility, establish and maintain safe clearance, and use physical barriers or goalposts where needed. Relying on the operator to watch the lines or hurry past does not provide a reliable control.

Question 21Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

What does a valid CSCS counterbalance forklift card primarily show an Irish site supervisor?

  1. A road-driving qualification for lift trucks
  2. Employment by the principal contractor on the site
  3. A statutory licence to operate every type of forklift
  4. Training and assessment for that truck category Correct answer.

Explanation

A CSCS card is evidence that the holder has been trained and assessed for the stated truck category. It is not a statutory licence, is not tied to one employer, and does not by itself authorise use of every forklift model or attachment.

Question 22Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

At the start of each shift, who should carry out the pre-use checks on the counterbalance forklift that will be used?

  1. The HSA inspector, during site visits
  2. The maintenance contractor, at monthly intervals
  3. The operator who is about to use the truck Correct answer.
  4. The site's safety officer, before every shift

Explanation

The operator due to use the truck carries out the pre-use check, because defects must be found before work starts. The employer must provide a system, training and time for the check, but the physical inspection belongs to the operator.

Question 23Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A colleague asks for a lift across the yard on a counterbalance forklift fitted only with a driver's seat. What is the correct response?

  1. Refuse it, as there is no approved passenger seat Correct answer.
  2. Allow it if the colleague wears high-visibility clothing
  3. Allow it if the colleague stands on the forks
  4. Allow it if the journey is under 100 metres

Explanation

A counterbalance forklift may carry a passenger only where an approved passenger seat and restraint are fitted. Riding on the forks or standing on the truck is unsafe and is not permitted for a short yard journey.

Question 24Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A counterbalance operator breaks a wrist at work and is certified unfit for work for two weeks. What is the employer's duty under Irish accident-reporting law?

  1. Report it only to the operator's GP
  2. Record the injury internally and take no further action
  3. Notify the HSA because the absence exceeds three days Correct answer.
  4. Report it only if the operator later needs surgery

Explanation

Under the Irish reporting regulations, an accident that keeps an employee absent from work for more than three consecutive days, excluding the day of the accident, must be notified to the HSA. Internal recording alone does not satisfy that duty.

Question 25Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

Before changing the traffic route used by counterbalance trucks in a warehouse, what must the employer do under Irish safety and health law?

  1. Consult employees and safety representatives first Correct answer.
  2. Consult only the truck hire company
  3. Ask the HSA to select the new route
  4. Decide the route and inform employees afterwards

Explanation

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to consult employees and any safety representatives on measures that affect their safety. A route change for counterbalance trucks is such a measure, so consultation must happen before it is introduced.

Question 26Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An HSA inspector serves a prohibition notice on a counterbalance truck with severely worn mast chains. What is the legal effect?

  1. It must not be used until made safe Correct answer.
  2. It may be used under direct supervision
  3. It may be used until the end of the shift
  4. It must be sold to another site

Explanation

A prohibition notice legally stops the notified activity or equipment use until the danger is removed to the inspector's satisfaction. Using the truck despite the notice would be an offence.

Question 27Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An operator is prescribed medicine that may cause drowsiness. What should they do before a counterbalance shift?

  1. Drink coffee and continue as normal
  2. Report it and do not operate until cleared Correct answer.
  3. Start work and stop only if they feel sleepy
  4. Ask a colleague to watch them during the shift

Explanation

An employee must not carry out work while unfit through drugs or medication that impairs alertness. The operator should report the medication, and operation should wait until the employer and medical advice confirm fitness.

Question 28Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

A supervisor wants a counterbalance forklift to lift a worker on its forks to reach a high light fitting. What is the correct legal approach?

  1. Use the forklift if the operator is experienced
  2. Use proper access equipment, not the forks Correct answer.
  3. Use the forklift after a toolbox talk
  4. Use the forklift if the worker holds the mast

Explanation

Using the forks to lift a person is not an acceptable work-at-height method. Suitable access equipment should be used; a forklift may lift persons only with a purpose-designed platform, controls and a safe system of work.

Question 29Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

The rated capacity plate on a counterbalance forklift is missing. What should happen before the truck is used?

  1. Do not use it until capacity is confirmed Correct answer.
  2. It may be used if the load looks light
  3. It may be used only for short lifts
  4. It may be used at half the normal capacity

Explanation

Without a legible rated capacity plate, the operator cannot know the safe load at the required load centre. The truck should be taken out of service until a competent person restores or confirms the rating.

Question 30Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

An employer hires a counterbalance forklift and operator for one week. Who is responsible for ensuring the truck is safe to use on site?

  1. The employer using the truck on site Correct answer.
  2. The hire company alone, because it owns the truck
  3. The HSA, because it regulates plant hire
  4. The operator alone, because they drive it

Explanation

The employer using the truck on site retains a duty to ensure work equipment is safe, suitable and inspected, even when it is hired. Contractual arrangements with the hire company do not transfer that legal duty away.

Question 31Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

During the pre-use inspection of a counterbalance forklift, which fork condition requires the truck to be taken out of service?

  1. Cracks at the fork heel or excessive heel wear Correct answer.
  2. Paint missing from the fork tips
  3. The forks are stamped with the truck's capacity
  4. Light surface rust on the fork blade

Explanation

Forks carry the full load, so cracks, deep gouges, or excessive wear at the heel reduce their strength and can lead to sudden failure. A fork in that condition must not be used until it has been assessed and replaced if necessary. Surface rust and missing paint are normally cosmetic unless they hide cracking.

Question 32Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

When should the pre-use inspection of a counterbalance forklift be carried out?

  1. Once a week, provided the truck is used daily
  2. At the start of each shift before use Correct answer.
  3. After every load is lifted
  4. Only after the truck has been operated for one hour

Explanation

Pre-use checks are carried out before the truck is used at the start of a shift, so defects are found before anyone operates it. They are not a substitute for scheduled maintenance, and checking only after use leaves the next operator exposed.

Question 33Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

What is the main purpose of the daily pre-use inspection on a counterbalance forklift?

  1. To increase the truck's lifting capacity for the shift
  2. To record the operator's break times
  3. To replace the manufacturer's scheduled maintenance
  4. To identify defects before they cause an incident Correct answer.

Explanation

The daily pre-use inspection is a defect-finding check: the operator looks for damage, leaks, wear, and faulty safety devices before work starts. It does not alter capacity, replace planned maintenance, or record breaks.

Question 34Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

You find a pool of hydraulic oil under the mast of a counterbalance forklift during the pre-use check. What is the correct action?

  1. Top up the hydraulic reservoir and complete the shift at reduced speed
  2. Tag out the truck and report the leak Correct answer.
  3. Wipe up the oil and continue if the mast still raises normally
  4. Lower the forks, check the level, and keep operating

Explanation

A hydraulic oil leak is a defect that can affect mast control, braking if oil reaches the floor, and fire risk. The truck should be isolated, tagged, and reported so a competent person can inspect and repair it. Topping up or wiping the oil away does not correct the cause.

Question 35Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

How should the horn on a counterbalance forklift be checked during a pre-use inspection?

  1. Press the horn and confirm a clear, audible sound Correct answer.
  2. Check that the horn button is tight and not loose
  3. Listen only for a faint click from the horn relay with the key off
  4. Sound the horn only while driving at full speed

Explanation

The horn is a warning device, so the check must confirm it produces a clear sound that can be heard over workplace noise. Pressing the button with the ignition on is the normal operational test; merely feeling the button or hearing a relay click does not prove the horn works.

Question 36Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

Which observation indicates that the mast chains on a counterbalance forklift need attention before use?

  1. The chains are the same age as the truck
  2. The chains are lightly coated with lubricant
  3. Both chains have uneven tension or visible kinks Correct answer.
  4. The chains hang vertically inside the mast

Explanation

Mast chains should run evenly, without kinks, cracks, or slack on one side, and should be lubricated. Uneven tension or kinks can cause the carriage to bind or the chain to fail under load, so the truck should be reported and inspected before use.

Question 37Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

Why is a pre-use check of tyre condition and pressure important on a counterbalance forklift?

  1. It replaces the need to check the brakes
  2. It changes the colour of the truck's data plate
  3. It affects stability, traction, and braking performance Correct answer.
  4. It is only needed when the truck is parked outdoors

Explanation

Tyres transmit traction, braking, and stability forces to the floor. Incorrect pressure, excessive wear, or damage can reduce grip, affect steering and braking, and increase tip-over risk, so condition and pressure are checked before use.

Question 38Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

An operator finds that the heel of a forklift fork has worn until its thickness is 10% less than the original dimension. What does this mean?

  1. The fork is at its wear limit and must be replaced Correct answer.
  2. The fork only needs to be repainted before it is returned to use
  3. The fork can be used until the next scheduled maintenance service
  4. The fork can still be used if every load is reduced by half

Explanation

Fork heels wear thinner with use, and a reduction of about 10% from the original blade thickness is a recognised wear limit. At that point the fork has lost strength and must be removed from service for assessment or replacement, not used with a reduced load.

Question 39Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

During a pre-use operational check, a counterbalance forklift moves when the parking brake is applied on a level floor. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Tag out the truck and report the brake defect Correct answer.
  2. Chock the wheels and use the truck only on slopes
  3. Increase engine speed and retest the parking brake
  4. Use the service brake instead and continue working normally

Explanation

The parking brake must hold the truck on the test surface; if it moves, the brake is defective and the truck must not be operated. Tagging out and reporting the defect prevents another operator from using an unsafe truck. Using the service brake or chocking the wheels does not cure the fault.

Question 40Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

Which sequence best reflects a proper pre-use inspection of a counterbalance forklift?

  1. Do a visual walkaround, then check horn, lights, and brakes Correct answer.
  2. Check only the items that failed on the previous inspection
  3. Ask a colleague to operate the truck while you watch from a distance
  4. Start the engine, lift a load, then check the tyres

Explanation

A proper pre-use inspection starts with a visual walkaround for leaks, damage, tyre condition, forks, and mast components, then moves to operational checks with the controls, horn, lights, and brakes. This order finds obvious hazards before the truck is started or moved.

Question 41Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

During the pre-use inspection, an operator finds the capacity data plate on a counterbalance forklift is cracked and the rated capacity is no longer readable. What is the correct action?

  1. Continue using the truck for the rest of the shift if the operator already knows its rated capacity.
  2. Clean the plate with solvent and continue the shift.
  3. Record the defect and continue using the truck at half its normal load.
  4. Take the truck out of service until the plate is replaced with the correct one. Correct answer.

Explanation

The capacity plate is the approved source of the truck's rated load and load centre, so it must remain legible. If it is damaged or unreadable, the truck cannot be safely matched to a load and must be withdrawn until the plate is replaced.

Question 42Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

What should the operator check about the seat belt during the pre-use inspection of a counterbalance forklift?

  1. That the belt can be removed to make cab access easier.
  2. That the belt webbing is not cut or frayed and the buckle latches securely. Correct answer.
  3. That the belt is the same colour as the seat.
  4. That the belt retracts fully only when the engine is running.

Explanation

The seat belt is the operator restraint and must be inspected for cuts, fraying, contamination, and a buckle that latches and releases correctly. A damaged belt may fail in a tip-over or collision, so it must be repaired or replaced before use.

Question 43Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

While walking around a counterbalance forklift, the operator notices a bend in one leg of the overhead guard. What does the pre-use inspection require?

  1. Continue to use the truck but avoid lifting loads above eye level.
  2. Treat the guard as defective and remove the truck from service until it is repaired. Correct answer.
  3. Straighten the guard with a hammer before the shift.
  4. Nothing, because the overhead guard is only for weather protection.

Explanation

The overhead guard is part of the falling-object protective structure, and bends or cracks can reduce its strength. Any damage to the guard or its mounting means the truck should be removed from service until a competent person repairs it.

Question 44Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

How should the engine oil level be checked on a diesel counterbalance forklift during the daily pre-use inspection?

  1. With the engine running fast and the truck on a slope.
  2. Immediately after shutdown while the oil is still hot and foamy.
  3. Only when the oil pressure warning light comes on during operation.
  4. With the engine off, the truck on level ground, and the dipstick wiped and reinserted. Correct answer.

Explanation

Engine oil is checked with the engine off, the truck level, and the dipstick wiped and reinserted to obtain a true reading. The level should sit between the marks, because both low oil and overfilling can damage the engine.

Question 45Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

An operator is checking an LPG counterbalance forklift before use. Which set of checks applies to the fuel system?

  1. Cylinder weight recorded, hose length measured, and regulator removed for storage.
  2. Cylinder secured in its bracket, hose free of cracks, and no smell of gas around the connections. Correct answer.
  3. Cylinder painted the correct colour, hose tied with tape, and gas smell ignored if small.
  4. Cylinder valve left open, hose disconnected, and regulator wiped with oil.

Explanation

The LPG cylinder must be secured, the hose and connections free from cracks or leaks, and any gas smell investigated before starting. LPG is flammable, so a leaking connection is a serious fire risk that must be corrected before use.

Question 46Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

On an electric counterbalance forklift, what should the pre-use inspection include for the battery compartment?

  1. Checking the battery restraint, connector, and cables for damage, with the key off. Correct answer.
  2. Checking that the battery cover is removed and left off during operation.
  3. Checking the battery acid level while the charger is connected.
  4. Checking that the battery is fully charged by touching the terminals with bare hands.

Explanation

On electric trucks the battery restraint, connector, and cables are checked with the key off to prevent accidental movement or arcing. A loose battery or damaged cable can cause shorts, burns, or a dangerous battery shift.

Question 47Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

During the operational pre-use check of a counterbalance forklift, how should the service brake be tested?

  1. Apply the brake hard at maximum travel speed on the yard and judge the stop by feel.
  2. Apply the brake only while carrying a load on a ramp, because the load tests the brake harder.
  3. Pump the brake pedal while the truck is parked and the engine is off, then listen for air.
  4. Drive at low speed, apply the brake, and check for a firm pedal and a straight stop. Correct answer.

Explanation

A low-speed running test shows whether the pedal is firm and whether the truck stops straight without pulling. Testing at high speed or only while parked does not confirm that the service brake works under normal operating conditions.

Question 48Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

What is the correct way to check steering during the pre-use inspection of a counterbalance forklift?

  1. Drive slowly and turn both ways, checking for excessive play, binding, or unusual noise. Correct answer.
  2. Check that the wheel turns only when the engine is at high idle.
  3. Check the steering by looking at the front wheels from the operator seat and turning the wheel.
  4. Turn the wheel fully to both locks while the truck is stationary on a concrete floor.

Explanation

Steering is checked by driving slowly and turning both directions, looking for excessive play, binding, or noise. A stationary full-lock turn can damage the steering or tyres and does not show how the truck behaves in motion.

Question 49Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

A pre-use inspection finds a hydraulic hose on a counterbalance forklift is chafed and leaking. No spare hose is available on site. What is the correct procedure?

  1. Top up the hydraulic reservoir and use the truck for light loads only.
  2. Let another operator decide whether the leak is serious enough to stop work.
  3. Wrap the hose with tape, top up the reservoir, and schedule a repair at the next service interval.
  4. Tag the truck out of service, remove the key, and report the defect so it is repaired before use. Correct answer.

Explanation

A leaking, chafed hydraulic hose can cause loss of lift control or create a slip hazard, so the truck must be tagged out, the key removed, and the defect reported for repair. Taping or topping up does not restore the hose and leaves a known unsafe condition.

Question 50Pre-Use Inspection and Daily Checks

During the pre-use inspection, the hydraulic oil in the sight glass of a counterbalance forklift appears milky rather than clear. What does this most likely indicate and what should be done?

  1. The sight glass is dirty; clean the glass and ignore the oil.
  2. Normal aeration; run the truck for the rest of the shift and recheck the oil later.
  3. The oil is overfull; drain some oil and continue the shift.
  4. Water contamination; the truck should be taken out of service for investigation. Correct answer.

Explanation

Milky hydraulic oil usually indicates water or moisture contamination, which reduces lubrication and can damage the hydraulic system. The truck should be stopped and the oil investigated rather than run for the rest of the shift.