Counterbalance Forklift Training Courses
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, anybody who uses a counterbalanced forklift is required to receive training. Training for these kinds of industrial machines consists of both hands-on driver training and classroom training. Refresher training is needed periodically in order to keep operator skills up to date. OSHA does not specify a required minimum time for either the hands-on or classroom training.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalance forklift could balance its cargo thanks to a counterbalance built into the truck. Forks could move up and down parallel to the body of the truck. The forks do not rotate. Operators driving counterbalanced forklifts must have training on the particular trucks they would be driving and in a similar workplace setting.
Classroom Training
The forklift operator would be taught the basics of the model of forklift they would be using in classroom training. They would learn info about the forklifts specific things such as weight, load and height capacity. The driver will be taught the basics of charging or fueling the lift truck, which depends on whether it is a gas-powered or battery-powered engine. Safety procedures pertaining to the specific lift truck, like for example how to safely walk around the lift truck, would be covered.
Supervised Driving
Driver training will be supervised to ensure that the driver will know how to correctly use the counterbalance lift truck. This practical training course would occur in the same kind of environment in which the driver would be working. The driver will train with the same types of surrounding buildings and other structures on the same type of terrain, as well as similar vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Refresher Training
Although OSHA requires regular refresher training for counterbalanced forklift operators, there are no specifications which determine the frequency of refresher training or its contents. Then again, for regular drivers, refresher training programs has to incorporate classroom-style training.