Forklift and Gantry Crane Training in South Ribble
GH Training provides practical forklift, material handling equipment and overhead gantry crane training at workplaces throughout South Ribble.
Courses are available for manufacturers, engineering businesses, warehouses and industrial suppliers across Leyland, Bamber Bridge, Walton Summit, Farington and surrounding areas.
Call 01925 500796
Training Delivered at Your Workplace
Forklifts and overhead cranes perform different tasks and require different operating skills, but both may be used within the same manufacturing or engineering facility.
On-site training allows instruction to reflect:
- The equipment installed at the workplace
- Controls and operating characteristics
- Typical loads
- Attachments and lifting accessories
- Production or warehouse layouts
- Pedestrian routes
- Loading and storage areas
- Workplace procedures
- Operator experience
- Available practical space
Employers must provide suitable equipment and enough controlled space for practical exercises and assessments.
South Ribble Areas Covered
GH Training supports businesses across South Ribble, including:
- Leyland
- Bamber Bridge
- Walton Summit
- Walton-le-Dale
- Lostock Hall
- Penwortham
- Farington
- Longton
- Samlesbury
- Higher Walton
- Moss Side Employment Area
- Lancashire Business Park
- Leyland Business Park
- Matrix Park
If your precise industrial estate is not listed, provide the full workplace postcode when requesting a quotation.
Counterbalance Forklift Training
Counterbalance trucks are used across South Ribble’s factories, warehouses, loading areas and external yards.
Training can include:
- Operator responsibilities
- Pre-use inspections
- Controls and instruments
- Equipment stability
- Steering and manoeuvring
- Load assessment
- Stacking and de-stacking
- Loading and unloading vehicles
- Pedestrian awareness
- Parking and securing procedures
- Defect reporting
Courses are available for novice, experienced, conversion and refresher operators.
View Counterbalance Forklift Training
Reach Truck Training
Reach trucks may be used for pallet placement and retrieval within warehouse racking.
Training can cover:
- Equipment checks
- Safe warehouse travel
- Steering characteristics
- Load handling
- Racking clearance
- Pallet placement and retrieval
- Stacking at height
- Battery care and charging
- Practical assessment
Counterbalance training does not automatically qualify an employee to use a reach truck.
Overhead Gantry Crane Training
Overhead gantry cranes can be used to lift machinery, fabricated components, raw materials and other loads within manufacturing and engineering workplaces.
Training should reflect the crane, controls and tasks operators will perform.
Depending on the equipment and course requirements, instruction may include:
- Operator responsibilities
- Pre-use checks
- Crane controls
- Rated capacity
- Travelling and lifting motions
- Load movement
- Avoiding side pulling
- Controlled starting and stopping
- Keeping people clear
- Emergency arrangements
- Safe shutdown
- Defect reporting
View Overhead Gantry Crane Training
Crane Operator and Slinger Responsibilities
Operating the crane and attaching the load are related but distinct activities.
A crane operator controls the lifting machine. A slinger or signaller may be responsible for selecting or checking lifting accessories, attaching the load and directing the movement.
Employers should establish who is authorised to:
- Operate the crane
- Select lifting accessories
- Sling or attach loads
- Inspect accessories before use
- Give signals
- Direct lifting operations
- Define exclusion zones
- Report damaged equipment
An employee should not undertake slinging or signalling duties solely because they have been trained to operate the crane.
Lifting Accessories
The suitability of chains, slings, shackles and other lifting accessories depends on the load and lifting arrangement.
Users may need to consider:
- Working load limit
- Identification markings
- Sling angle
- Load weight
- Centre of gravity
- Attachment points
- Sharp edges
- Accessory condition
- Environmental conditions
- Manufacturer information
Damaged, unidentified or unsuitable accessories should not be used.
Formal arrangements are also required for inspection and thorough examination where applicable.
Coordinating Forklifts and Cranes
Some workplaces use both forklifts and cranes during different stages of production or dispatch.
Where equipment works in the same area, employers should consider:
- Which operation has priority
- Pedestrian exclusion
- Suspended loads
- Forklift parking positions
- Communication between operators
- Blind spots
- Production-line access
- Temporary storage
- Emergency stopping
- Supervision
A forklift should not be driven beneath a suspended load.
The responsibilities of each operator should be clear before a combined handling task begins.
Multidirectional Forklift Training
Engineering and manufacturing businesses may use multidirectional trucks to move:
- Metal sections
- Timber
- Pipework
- Panels
- Extrusions
- Fabricated components
- Other long or awkward loads
Training should reflect the equipment model, rated capacity, attachments, load dimensions and available operating space.
View Multidirectional Forklift Training
Pivot Steer Forklift Training
Articulated Flexi and Bendi-type forklifts may be used in narrow warehouse aisles.
Courses address their distinctive steering characteristics, load handling and safe operation around racking.
View Pivot Steer Forklift Training
Pallet Truck and Stock Picker Training
Powered pallet trucks and vertical stock pickers may be used for line-side supply, stock movement, order preparation and warehouse replenishment.
Suitable training is required even when the equipment is pedestrian-controlled or appears straightforward to use.
View Pedestrian Pallet Truck Training
View Vertical Stock Picker Training
Additional Workplace Courses
South Ribble businesses can also enquire about:
- MEWP training
- Slinger signaller training
- Managing and supervising MHE
- Working at height awareness
- Risk assessment and method statement awareness
Selecting the Correct Forklift Course
The appropriate forklift course depends on the employee’s formal training, genuine experience and equipment category.
Novice Training
For employees without previous formal training or practical experience on the relevant equipment.
Experienced Operator Training
For suitable operators with substantial genuine experience but no recognised evidence of formal training.
It should not be used as a shortened novice course.
View Experienced Operator Training
Conversion Training
For trained operators moving to another category or significantly different type of equipment.
View Forklift Conversion Training
Refresher Training
For previously trained operators requiring reassessment or updated instruction.
Refresher training may be appropriate following an accident, near miss, unsafe practice, extended absence or significant workplace change.
View Forklift Refresher Training
Complete the Free Training Gap Check
Preparing for On-Site Training
The employer will normally need to provide:
- Safe and serviceable equipment
- Manufacturer operating instructions
- A suitable practical training area
- Representative loads
- Relevant attachments
- Lifting-accessory information where required
- Appropriate personal protective equipment
- Sufficient access to the equipment
- Time and space for assessments
Normal production, lifting or warehouse activity may need to be separated from the training area.
GH Training will confirm the requirements before the course.
Assessment, Records and Authorisation
Courses include the theory, practical instruction and assessment appropriate to the equipment and course being delivered.
Successful candidates receive suitable evidence of training for the equipment assessed. Employers remain responsible for:
- Workplace familiarisation
- Job-specific instruction
- Formal authorisation
- Ongoing supervision
- Monitoring performance
- Equipment maintenance
- Inspection and examination arrangements
- Planning and controlling lifting activities
Training evidence should clearly identify the equipment or activity covered.
South Ribble and Nearby Coverage
GH Training supports businesses throughout South Ribble and the surrounding Central Lancashire area.
Related location pages include:
View Forklift Training Across Lancashire
Arrange Training in South Ribble
Tell us which equipment is involved, what tasks employees perform, how many people require training and what previous experience they have.
For crane enquiries, include details of the crane, controls, typical loads and whether operators also undertake slinging or signalling duties.
We will review the information and provide a tailored quotation.
Call 01925 500796