UDT in Poland: Questions and Answers

In this article you will find answers to all the most common questions about UDT in Poland.

How do you get a UDT licence? What is UDT and what does this diploma give you? What job openings are available for candidates with UDT?

If you work at Gremi Personal and want to obtain UDT – you can go straight to the UDT Forklift Operator School page for our employees.

What is UDT?

The abbreviation UDT stands for Urząd Dozoru Technicznego – the Office of Technical Inspection. The word UDT is commonly used as a shorthand for the licences (certificates, diplomas) required to operate lifting equipment.

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

The Office of Technical Inspection is a state authority responsible for the operation, maintenance, registration and supervision of crane and lifting equipment in Poland.

In accordance with Article 37 of the Technical Inspection Act, the Office of Technical Inspection carries out the following functions: ⇒ supervises and controls compliance with technical maintenance regulations; ⇒ provides technical oversight of equipment and devices; ⇒ organises training programmes for personnel; ⇒ issues decisions on the necessity of technical inspections; ⇒ keeps records of equipment in use; ⇒ certifies quality management systems; ⇒ cooperates with Polish and international organisations to harmonise regulatory documents, as well as with technical inspection bodies; ⇒ develops training courses for persons working with technical equipment; ⇒ verifies the qualifications of personnel engaged 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 subject to technical supervision. The Office also deals with 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 that is generally required to operate various types of forklifts in Poland. You may also encounter the terms UDT qualification certificate, UDT diploma, UDT licence – in most cases they all refer to the same document. The certificate is issued to individuals who have undergone UDT qualification – meaning they have demonstrated to the Office of Technical Inspection that they: ⇒ are familiar with the technical inspection requirements, ⇒ know and comply with the applicable rules and standards, ⇒ are capable of performing tasks related to the operation and/or maintenance of equipment in practice.

To obtain a UDT certificate you must complete a training course and successfully pass a qualification exam. The state exam is held before a UDT examination board and tests both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in operating the vehicle (forklift). To sit the exam, a qualification assessment application must be submitted. Qualifications are assessed in accordance with the Act of 21 December 2000 on Technical Inspection and the Regulation of the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology of 21 May 2019 on the manner and procedure for verifying qualifications required for the operation and maintenance of technical equipment.

Are all UDT certificates the same?

No, they are not. There are currently three categories of UDT licences.

Category III WJO

This is the basic level of licensing, covering the operation of all types of industrial forklifts with mechanical lifting drives, including both electric and internal combustion engine models. In practice, holders of such licences are authorised to operate only remotely controlled forklifts (with no option to ride in the cab). Category III WJO licences are in demand among workers in the food industry, particularly those who want to operate electric pallet trucks. The plastic UDT certificate for category III WJO states: wozki jezdniowe podnosnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia z wylaczeniem wozkow z wysiegnikiem oraz wozkow z osoba obslugujaca podnoszona wraz z ladunkiem (powered industrial trucks with mechanical lifting drive). Valid for 10 years.

Category II WJO

A Category II WJO licence extends the operator's capabilities by permitting the use of equipment covered by the third category and also granting the right to operate counterbalanced forklifts. However, this licence does not cover specialised lifting mechanisms or cargo equipment with adjustable boom height. The plastic UDT certificate for category II WJO states: wozki jezdniowe podnosnikowe z wyłączeniem specjalizowanych (forklifts, excluding specialised ones). Valid for 10 years.

Category I WJO

Obtaining a first-category licence for operating forklifts gives operators the broadest range of rights, covering not only standard loading and unloading equipment but also specialised machinery such as forklifts with an adjustable boom or machines that allow the operator to be elevated together with the load. This type of licence permits the use of equipment with any drive type, lifting capacity and without height restrictions. Accordingly, holders of Category I WJO licences are automatically qualified to operate second and third category equipment. The Category I WJO licence states: wózki jezdniowe podnośnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia, z wysiegnikiem oraz wozki jezdniowe podnosnikowe z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia z osoba obslugujaca podnoszona wraz z ladunkiem. (Uprawnia również do obsługi wszystkich pozostałych typów wózków jezdniowych podnosnikowych z mechanicznym napędem podnoszenia) (powered industrial trucks with mechanical lifting drive, with a boom, and powered industrial trucks with mechanical lifting drive with an operator elevated together with the load. (Also authorises the operation of all other types of powered industrial trucks with mechanical lifting drive)). Valid for 5 years.

How does the Gremi Personal UDT Forklift Operator School work?

At Gremi Personal, we care about our employees and their professional and financial growth. Aware that the market offers many high-paying vacancies with excellent conditions for forklift operators, we established the UDT Forklift Operator School. At the School we run training courses for our employees. After they obtain their diploma, we help them find employment in warehouses, trading companies, factories and more.

What you need to know about the Gremi Personal UDT Forklift Operator School:

1. Only our employees can train at the School.
2. Both men and women are welcome – there are no age restrictions (we remind you that we employ people legally, from the age of 18).
3. A knowledge of Polish at least at a communicative level is required. Basic Polish is necessary not only during the training but also when looking for work. At the same time, a coordinator helps to translate more complex points during the course and the exam.
4. Advantages of our school: ✔ Short two-day training course held in Bydgoszcz ✔ During the course we provide free accommodation and support from a bilingual coordinator ✔ Both theoretical and practical classes are held, with an emphasis on practical work ✔ After completing the training, students sit a qualification exam and subsequently receive their UDT diploma.
5. The training costs 650 PLN. This is a deposit that is fully refunded 60 days after receiving the certificate, provided the employee continues working with us.

What job openings are available for forklift operators? What is the rate with a UDT diploma?

The average salary with a UDT certificate starts from 6,000 PLN (wages depend on the number of hours worked). Even beginners with no work experience are offered a rate of 25–28 PLN/hour net. Rates in actual job listings: ⇒ UDT-certified worker for a logistics warehouse in Lublin – rate 28 PLN/hour net; ⇒ forklift operator for parts picking in Stalowa Wola – rate 27 PLN/hour net; ⇒ forklift operator at a toy production plant near Gdańsk – 29 PLN/hour net; ⇒ forklift operator at a metal parts production plant near Gdańsk – 28 PLN/hour net; ⇒ forklift operator at a door production plant in Ełk – 26 PLN/hour net; ⇒ forklift drivers at a frozen fruit and vegetable production plant in Lipno – 27.56 PLN/hour net.

Looking for work? Call us: +38 (050) 334-93-51 or +48 525 275 003