DOSH Forklift Operator study plan

Map each operator duty under the legislation domain to the specific statutory or regulatory obligation it comes from, and state in one sentence what the operator must do, must not do, and must report

Explain the hierarchy of duties (employer, person in control of the workplace, operator, pedestrian) and identify which duty holder is responsible for each of ten given scenarios

Label the major components of a counterbalance forklift - mast, carriage, forks, hydraulic cylinders, overhead guard, counterweight, steer axle - and state the function of each

Define the stability triangle and explain how the centre of gravity shifts when a load is raised, tilted forward, or carried off-centre

Distinguish longitudinal, lateral and dynamic stability, and give one operating action that destabilises the truck in each case

Compare counterbalance, reach truck, order picker and rough-terrain forklift by typical application, load centre and where the operator stands or sits

Read a load chart and calculate the maximum permissible load for a given load centre, lift height and attachment, working three worked examples without error

Explain derating: how attachments, extended load centres and high lift heights reduce rated capacity, and calculate the new limit for one attachment case

Assess a load before lifting - weight, stability, integrity, securing, dimensions - using a five-point check you can recite

Describe how to place, pick up and set down a load so the load centre stays within the rated envelope

Perform a full pre-start inspection in the correct sequence - visual walk-around, fluid levels, tyres, forks and mast, hydraulic hoses, seat and restraints, horn, lights, brakes, steering, and operational checks

Explain why each inspection item matters by linking it to a specific failure mode or incident type

Identify when a defect requires the truck to be tagged out and removed from service versus recorded and monitored

Describe daily, scheduled and statutory maintenance responsibilities and the operator's role versus the technician's role

State the correct procedure for reporting a defect and the record-keeping that follows

Demonstrate the standard travel sequence: seatbelt, forks lowered and tilted back, travel in the correct direction, sound horn at blind corners, maintain safe speed for surface and load

Explain the rules for travelling with and without a load, on ramps and slopes, and across uneven or wet surfaces

Describe safe refuelling and recharging routines for LPG, diesel and battery trucks, including ventilation, ignition sources, PPE and spill response

List the checks and precautions before parking a forklift at the end of a shift

Explain the operator's authority and obligation to refuse to operate an unsafe truck or handle an unsafe load

Apply pedestrian separation principles - designated walkways, barriers, exclusion zones, eye contact, and the forklift's rear swing and blind spots

Explain the traffic management controls used on a site: one-way routes, speed limits, signage, mirrors, crossing points and right-of-way rules

Identify common site hazards - racking damage, floor defects, overhead obstructions, low clearance, poor lighting, other vehicles - and state the control for each

Describe safe loading and unloading at a truck dock or trailer, including trailer restraint, floor condition and the risk of the trailer moving

Explain the risks of the rear-end swing during a tight turn and how to plan a turn to keep the tail clear

Describe the immediate actions after a tip-over, a dropped load, a collision with a pedestrian, and a hydraulic failure

Explain why staying in the seat with the seatbelt fastened is the correct response to a tip-over, and when exiting is appropriate

List the emergency equipment and contacts a forklift operator must know on their site, and the correct sequence for raising the alarm

State what must be recorded and reported after an incident, near miss or property damage, and to whom, and why near misses are reported

Explain the fire risks and controls specific to LPG, diesel and battery-powered trucks, including battery charging gas and hydrogen accumulation

Revisit the legislation domain and recite the operator's legal duties, the consequences of non-compliance, and the reporting obligations without reference notes

Combine pedestrian, traffic and site-hazard knowledge into a single walk-through of a typical warehouse shift, narrating the decision at each step

Explain the interaction between fatigue, distraction, mobile phone use and operator error, and the controls that mitigate each

Identify the circumstances in which an operator must stop work and escalate, and practise phrasing that escalation professionally

Review incident reporting and near-miss recording against the legal duty to report

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions and record the score for each domain

Re-teach every missed question from the two practice exams by writing the correct reasoning in your own words, without copying the answer text

Drill the two weakest domains to at least 85% accuracy on a fresh set of questions

Recite the load-chart calculation method, the pre-start inspection sequence and the post-incident action list from memory

Confirm exam-day logistics: identification, timing, permitted materials and the format of the practical or written components