Counterbalance Forklift Training
Based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, anybody who uses a counterbalanced forklift must have training. Training for these types of industrial machinery comprises both hands-on driver training and classroom training. Refresher training is needed occasionally in order to keep driver skills up to date. OSHA does not indicate a required minimum time for either the classroom or hands-on training.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalance lift truck can balance its cargo due to a counterbalance built into the truck. Blades could move down and up parallel to the truck's body. The forks do not pivot. Operators driving counterbalanced forklifts must receive training on the particular lift trucks they will be driving and in the same workplace setting.
Classroom Training Programs
The forklift operator will be taught the basics of the model of forklift they will be using in classroom training. They would learn info about the lift trucks specific things such as weight, load and height capacity. The driver would learn the basics of charging or fueling the lift truck, that depends on whether it is a gas-powered or battery-powered engine. Safety measures pertaining to the particular truck, like for instance how to safely walk around the forklift, would be included.
Supervised Driving
Driver training would be supervised to make certain that the operator would know how to correctly drive the counterbalance lift truck. This practical training will take place in the same kind of setting wherein the driver would be working. The operator would train on the same type of terrain with the same types of nearby buildings and other structures, as well as similar pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Refresher Training Programs
Although OSHA requires regular refresher training for counterbalanced lift truck operators, there are no specifications which determine the frequency of refresher training or its contents. Then again, for regular operators, refresher training courses needs to incorporate classroom-style training.