TLILIC0003 TLILIC0003 Forklift Safety and Operations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before operating a forklift, which pre-operational check must you complete first?
- Check the tyres for wear and damage
- Review the logbook for previous faults (Correct answer)
- Ensure the load backrest extension is fitted
- Test the horn while travelling
Correct answer: Review the logbook for previous faults
Reviewing the logbook for previously recorded faults is the first step so you are aware of any outstanding issues before conducting your own physical checks.
Under WHS regulations and the TLILIC0003 unit requirements, operators must check the logbook/inspection record before commencing a pre-operational inspection. This reveals any defects recorded by the previous operator. If a fault has been recorded and not cleared by an authorised person, the forklift must not be operated until it is rectified.
Question 2: What does the rated capacity of a forklift refer to?
- The maximum weight the forklift can carry at the manufacturer's specified load centre (Correct answer)
- The maximum speed the forklift can travel when fully loaded
- The weight of the forklift itself including fuel and operator
- The combined weight of the forklift and maximum load
Correct answer: The maximum weight the forklift can carry at the manufacturer's specified load centre
Rated capacity is the maximum load a forklift can safely carry at the manufacturer's specified load centre distance, typically 500 mm from the face of the forks.
The rated capacity is defined as the maximum load a forklift truck can carry safely at a specified load centre (usually 500 mm) with the mast in the vertical position at a specified lift height. If the actual load centre exceeds 500 mm (i.e., the load is deeper or positioned further forward), the effective capacity is reduced. Exceeding rated capacity risks tip-over and structural failure.
Question 3: A forklift has a rated capacity of 2,000 kg at a 500 mm load centre. If the load centre increases to 750 mm, what happens to the safe carrying capacity?
- It increases proportionally
- It remains the same
- It decreases (Correct answer)
- It doubles
Correct answer: It decreases
As the load centre increases beyond the rated distance, the safe carrying capacity decreases due to the increased moment (torque) acting on the forklift.
Load capacity is calculated using the principle of moments. The rated capacity × rated load centre = safe working moment. If the load centre increases to 750 mm, the maximum safe load = (rated capacity × rated load centre) ÷ actual load centre = (2000 × 500) ÷ 750 = approximately 1,333 kg. Operators must consult the manufacturer's load capacity chart to determine the reduced capacity.
Question 4: Which of the following forms the forklift's stability triangle?
- The two front wheels and the rear axle pivot point (Correct answer)
- The four corners of the forklift chassis
- The two forks and the mast
- The front axle, counterweight, and operator cab
Correct answer: The two front wheels and the rear axle pivot point
The stability triangle is formed by the two front drive wheels and the single pivot point at the centre of the rear axle, creating a triangular base of support.
Although a forklift has four wheels, the rear axle is a single pivot point, creating a three-point suspension system. The triangle formed by the two front wheels and the rear axle pivot is the stability triangle. The combined centre of gravity of the forklift and load must remain within this triangle to prevent tip-over. Turning, carrying an elevated load, or an uneven surface can cause the centre of gravity to shift outside the triangle.
Question 5: Under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, what duty does a forklift operator have regarding hazards in the workplace?
- Report hazards only if they are in the operator's immediate work area
- Take reasonable care to identify hazards and report them to the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) (Correct answer)
- Ignore minor hazards and only report serious injuries
- Only follow instructions from supervisors, with no independent duty to report
Correct answer: Take reasonable care to identify hazards and report them to the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU)
Under the WHS Act, workers have a duty to take reasonable care for their own and others' health and safety, which includes identifying and reporting hazards to the PCBU.
Section 28 of the model WHS Act requires workers to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, comply with reasonable instructions from the PCBU, and cooperate with any reasonable health and safety policy or procedure. This includes proactively identifying hazards — such as spills, damaged racking, pedestrians in forklift zones — and reporting them. Operators are not passive; they share responsibility for a safe workplace.
Question 6: What is the correct travelling position for the forks when moving a loaded forklift on level ground?
- Raised 300–500 mm above ground with mast tilted back (Correct answer)
- Raised to eye level for better visibility
- Fully lowered and flat on the ground
- Raised to the height of the load only
Correct answer: Raised 300–500 mm above ground with mast tilted back
Forks should be raised 300–500 mm (approximately 15–20 cm) off the ground with the mast tilted back to lower the centre of gravity and improve stability during travel.
Travelling with forks raised 300–500 mm above the ground clears minor floor obstructions while keeping the load's centre of gravity low. The mast should be tilted back to cradle the load securely against the backrest and reduce the risk of the load sliding forward. Travelling with the forks too high raises the centre of gravity significantly, increasing tip-over risk, particularly when turning or braking.
Question 7: When must a forklift operator record an entry in the logbook?
- Only when a serious fault is found during pre-operational checks
- At the start and end of each shift, including any faults or damage found (Correct answer)
- Only when instructed to do so by a supervisor
- Once per week, summarising all operations performed
Correct answer: At the start and end of each shift, including any faults or damage found
Logbook entries must be made at the start and end of each shift, recording pre-operational check results and any faults, damage, or incidents that occurred during operation.
The logbook is a mandatory legal document under WHS regulations. Operators must record: the date and shift, their name and licence number, results of the pre-operational inspection (including any defects found), any faults, damage, or near-misses that occur during the shift, and fuel/battery top-up details. Incomplete logbooks can result in the forklift being taken out of service and may constitute a WHS breach for both the operator and the PCBU.
TLILIC0003 TLILIC0003 Forklift Safety and Operations 1
Before operating a forklift, which pre-operational check must you complete first?