Mandatory security training in logistics: what the law says (and what you really need to do)
In warehouses, docks, storage or transit areas, risks are everywhere: handling equipment, falls from one level, load handling, cross traffic... Logistics is a sector under stress, where prevention cannot be an option.
And yet, many businesses still have questions:
- What training courses are mandatory?
- When should an employee be trained?
- Is there a minimum base to remain compliant?
- Where can you find these courses simply, without drowning in paperwork?
Here is a clear answer, based on French regulations, with concrete resources to take action without stress.
Why is safety training mandatory?
Because it's the law. Article L4121-1 of the Labor Code requires every employer to train its employees in safety, as soon as they are hired and throughout their career, depending on their position and the risks involved.
Not training = taking a legal risk in the event of an accident (or even criminal prosecution).
Logistics involves high-risk situations: vehicle traffic, physical effort, falling loads, coactivity... All contexts that require targeted training.
📖 Official references: Labor code — Légifrance
The essential security courses in logistics
Here are the main training courses considered essential — and often mandatory — in warehouses, sorting or distribution platforms:
Workplace safety training
As soon as they join the company, each employee must receive a security training related to his specific position : mechanical risks, actions to avoid, instructions to follow.
This training must be formalized and traced. The platform Certalis allows you to create this type of content in a few minutes, with reading history and certificate.
Safe driving training (CACES R485/R489)
Any employee who drives a stacker, a forklift or a ride-on electric pallet truck must have followed a safe driving training, in accordance with the recommendations of the CNAM.
The main CACES categories in logistics are:
- R489: self-propelled ride-on trucks
- R485: walk-behind stackers
It is not enough to have the CACES: a site-specific driving license is also mandatory.
➡️ See our R485 mobile stacker training
Gestures and postures training
If employees have to handle loads manually, a training in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is highly recommended — even required in some cases.
This training is particularly relevant for order pickers, forklift operators, dock workers...
Fire/evacuation training
Even in logistics, fire risks exist: lithium batteries, flammable products, thermal vehicles... The company must:
- Train your employees to react in the event of a fire,
- Designate and form guides-files/tighteners.
Chemical risk training (if applicable)
If dangerous products are stored or handled (aerosols, solvents, disinfectants, batteries...), a specific information on chemical risks is mandatory.
And for temporary workers or newcomers?
Each temporary worker or new employee must receive safety training adapted to your position, even if the mission is short.
It is an obligation shared between the temporary employment agency and the user company. The training should be trackable, clear and understandable immediately.
How to simplify the management of these courses?
If you are a QHSE manager, HR manager or logistics manager, you know how time-consuming it can be to:
- Plan sessions,
- Reviving employees,
- Manage certificates,
- Follow the deadlines...
The solution? Digitize your follow-up with a centralized platform like Certalis :
- Dissemination of internal and regulatory training
- Automatic due date alerts
- Digital signing and secure certificate storage
- Individual compliance monitoring
What to remember
- Safety training is a legal requirement for any logistics company.
- Some training courses are specific to positions or equipment (CACES, gestures and postures, fire, etc.).
- The lack of training can have serious consequences: AT, prosecutions, sanctions.
- Digitizing management allows you to gain peace of mind and traceability.
👉 Do you want an express diagnosis of your training obligations by type of position?
Contact our team for a quick and free audit.
