Forklift Licence in Victoria: LF Licence Requirements Explained
Updated 2026-08-15
THE SHORT ANSWER
In Victoria, operating a counterbalance forklift requires a High Risk Work Licence with the LF class, issued under WorkSafe Victoria's high-risk work licensing scheme. Employers must verify the licence before allowing operation, provide site-specific training and supervision, and ensure the forklift suits the task. An LO class covers order-picking forklifts only.
Who needs what
- LF class — required to operate a forklift truck (counterbalance machines like everything in our fleet).
- LO class — covers order-picking forklift trucks (elevating operator platforms) only. An LO does not cover an LF machine.
- No licence class is required to charge or inspect a forklift — only to operate it.
The licence is a national High Risk Work Licence framework; in Victoria it’s administered through WorkSafe Victoria. It’s valid for five years and recognised across states.
Getting an LF licence in Victoria
- Train with a WorkSafe-approved RTO (registered training organisation) — typically a course of a few days for new operators
- Pass the knowledge and practical assessment with an accredited assessor
- Apply through WorkSafe Victoria with identity documents
- You must be 18 or over
Costs and durations vary by RTO; check WorkSafe Victoria’s current list of approved providers for specifics rather than relying on any third-party summary — including this one.
What employers must do (this is the part that gets missed)
Holding the hire agreement makes you the operator’s employer or host — and Victorian OHS law puts specific duties on you:
- Verify the licence — sight and record the physical/digital licence before first operation. An expired LF is no LF.
- Site-specific training — the licence proves baseline competency, not familiarity with your racking, ramps, pedestrian zones and traffic plan
- Supervision and enforcement — seatbelt use, speed, exclusion zones, load limits
- The right machine for the task — capacity, height, attachments and surface must suit the work. That machine-to-task matching is exactly what our fit assessment documents for you.
What we provide with every hire
Every machine arrives with its load chart, operator manual, daily pre-start checklist and service records — the documentation trail your safety system (and any WorkSafe visit) expects. Operator licensing itself stays your side of the line: we supply compliant machines and keep the maintenance records; you supply licensed, site-trained operators.
This guide is general information, reviewed August 2026 — always check current WorkSafe Victoria requirements directly.