UDT in Poland: Questions and Answers

This article answers the most common questions about UDT in Poland.

How do you get a UDT licence? What is UDT and what does this certificate actually give you?

What is UDT?

UDT stands for Urząd Dozoru Technicznego - the Office of Technical Inspection. In everyday use, "UDT" also refers to the licences (certificates, diplomas) issued to operators of lifting equipment.

What does the Office of Technical Inspection (UDT) do?

The UDT is a government body responsible for the operation, maintenance, registration, and supervision of lifting and crane equipment in Poland. Under Article 37 of the Technical Devices Act, the UDT carries out the following functions:

• supervises and monitors compliance with maintenance regulations;
• provides technical oversight of equipment and devices;
• organises training programmes for personnel;
• issues decisions on the need for technical inspections;
• maintains records of equipment in use;
• certifies quality management systems;
• cooperates with Polish and international organisations on the alignment of regulatory documents, and with technical inspection bodies;
• develops training courses for people working with technical devices;
• verifies the qualifications of personnel involved in the operation, manufacture, repair, or testing of technical equipment;
• analyses the causes and consequences of equipment failures and assesses potential risks.

Lifting equipment (forklifts) is not the only type of machinery under UDT supervision. The office also oversees the safe operation of:

• pressure equipment,
• non-pressure equipment,
• vapour recovery equipment,
• and lifting and transport equipment.

What is a UDT certificate?

A UDT licence is a document generally required to operate various types of forklift trucks in Poland. You may also come across the terms UDT qualification certificate, UDT diploma, or UDT operator's licence - in most cases, they all refer to the same document.

The certificate is issued to those who have completed UDT qualification - meaning they have demonstrated to the Office of Technical Inspection that they:

• know the technical inspection requirements,
• are familiar with and comply with the relevant regulations and standards,
• can carry out tasks related to the operation and/or maintenance of equipment in practice.

To obtain a UDT certificate, you must complete a training course and pass a qualification exam. The state exam takes place before a UDT committee and covers both theoretical knowledge and practical forklift operation skills.

To sit the exam, you must submit a formal application for a qualification check. Qualifications are verified under the Act of 21.12.2000 on Technical Inspection and the Regulation of the Minister of Enterprise and Technology of 21.05.2019 on the procedure and manner of verifying qualifications required for the operation and maintenance of technical devices. Are all UDT certificates the same? No. There are currently three categories of UDT operator's licence.

Category III WJO

This is the entry-level licence, covering the operation of all types of industrial powered pallet trucks - both electric and combustion-engine models. In practice, holders of this licence may only operate remote-controlled trucks (without an on-board cab). Category III WJO is popular in the food industry, particularly among those looking to operate electric pallet trucks. The plastic UDT certificate for Category III WJO states: wózki jezdniowe podnośnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia z wyłączeniem wózków z wysięgnikiem oraz wózków z osobą obsługującą podnoszoną wraz z ładunkiem (powered pallet trucks with mechanical lift, excluding reach trucks and order pickers). Valid for 10 years.

Category II WJO

The Category II WJO licence extends the operator's permissions - allowing them to operate all equipment covered by Category III, plus standard counterbalance forklifts. It does not, however, cover specialised lifting mechanisms or equipment with an adjustable boom. The plastic UDT certificate for Category II WJO states: wózki jezdniowe podnośnikowe z wyłączeniem specjalizowanych (forklift trucks, excluding specialised types). Valid for 10 years.

Category I WJO

Category I gives operators the broadest permissions of all - covering not just standard loading and unloading equipment but also specialised machinery such as reach trucks with an adjustable boom or order pickers that lift the operator along with the load. This licence covers equipment with any drive type, any load capacity, and no restrictions on lift height. Holders of a Category I WJO licence are automatically qualified to operate Category II and III equipment as well.

The Category I WJO licence states: wózki jezdniowe podnośnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia, z wysięgnikiem oraz wózki jezdniowe podnośnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia z osobą obsługującą podnoszoną wraz z ładunkiem. (Uprawnia również do obsługi wszystkich pozostałych typów wózków jezdniowych podnośnikowych z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia) (powered reach trucks and order pickers with mechanical lift. Also authorises the operation of all other types of mechanically powered forklift trucks). Valid for 5 years.

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