Rough Terrain Forklift & Telehandler Certification Explained

A rough terrain forklift is built to carry heavy loads over mud, gravel, sand and slopes, where a warehouse forklift would get stuck or tip. They have large, rugged tires and more ground clearance. In the common Canadian class system, they are known as Class 7 lift trucks.

There are two main types:

• Straight-mast rough terrain forklifts, which lift loads straight up a vertical mast, like a heavy-duty outdoor forklift.
• Telehandlers, also called variable reach forklifts or telescopic handlers, which use a boom that extends up and out. They can place loads on rooftops, upper floors and over obstacles.

Because they work on uneven ground and can reach high and far, these machines need more planning and skill than a standard forklift. The main risks are tip-overs, dropped loads, and striking people or power lines.

The most important thing a rough terrain operator learns is how the machine’s capacity changes with every move.

Every load has a load centre, and the machine has a stability triangle. If the combined centre of gravity moves outside that area, the machine tips. Raising or extending a load, turning on a slope or travelling with the load high all move the centre of gravity in the wrong direction.

Simple habits make a big difference: travel with the load low and the boom retracted, level the machine before lifting, drive straight up and down slopes, and never exceed the load chart, even “just for a second”.

Inspect before every shift. A pre-use inspection checks tires, the boom and forks, hydraulic hoses for leaks, fluid levels, lights, horn, brakes, steering, seatbelt and any stabilizers. Report defects and do not use a machine that is not safe. Before you lift, also walk the area: look for soft ground, holes, slopes, people and, above all, overhead power lines. Keep a safe distance from power lines as set by your provincial rules, and use a spotter when you are close.

In Canada, provincial OHS regulations require employers to make sure that anyone who runs a lift truck or other mobile equipment is trained and competent on that equipment. The national safety standard for lift trucks is CSA B335, which sets out operator training and evaluation.

In practice, competent means three things:

• You have learned the theory (how the machine works, load charts, hazards and rules).
• You have passed a hands-on practical evaluation on the type of machine you will use.
• Your employer has shown you the site’s own rules, routes and hazards.

An online course on its own does not make you a certified operator. It is the theory part, and it gets you ready for the practical evaluation.

Anyone who operates, or will soon operate, a rough terrain forklift or telehandler, plus the people who supervise them. Common jobs include:

Supervisors benefit too. Knowing how load charts and stability work helps them plan lifts, set up the site and spot unsafe practices.

The Gama Safety Rough Terrain Forklift course takes about two hours and has four modules:

1. Introduction to Rough Terrain Forklifts: the types of rough terrain forklifts and telehandlers, their main parts and controls, and the jobs they are built for.
2. Safety Protocols: pre-use inspections, load charts, stability, safe travel on rough ground and slopes, and working near people and power lines.
3. Practical Training: a step-by-step look at the skills you will show in your hands-on evaluation, from start-up to picking up and placing loads.
4. Regulatory Compliance: the standards and provincial OHS rules that apply, and the duties of employers, supervisors and workers.

Think of certification as two halves:

• Online theory (this course): learn at your own pace, pass a final exam and get a certificate that shows you completed the theory.
• Hands-on practical evaluation: a qualified evaluator watches you inspect, start, drive and handle loads on the actual type of machine you will use, and confirms you can do it safely.

The practical evaluation is usually done by your employer or a qualified evaluator. Gama Safety Canada also offers hands-on training at our Burnaby, BC training centre or at your site. Doing the theory online first means less time away from work for the practical part.

There is no single national expiry date. It depends on your province and your employer. In BC, lift truck operators must get upgrade training at least every 3 years. Many employers re-evaluate operators at least every 3 years, and most ask for a refresher every 1 to 3 years. You should also be re-evaluated if you switch to a different type of machine, are involved in an incident or near miss, or are seen operating unsafely.

1. Enrol in the online Rough Terrain Forklift course and start right away on any device.
2. Learn the theory at your own pace. It takes about two hours, and your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better (unlimited free retakes), then download your certificate. A wallet card is mailed to you free.
4. Complete your hands-on practical evaluation with your employer, a qualified evaluator, or Gama in Burnaby or on site.

The course is recognized by employers across Canada and available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more. Team pricing starts at 2 seats. Call 1-866-661-9803 or email info@gamasafety.ca.