Counterbalance Forklift Training Courses
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies, anyone who utilizes a counterbalanced lift truck must have training. Training for these kinds of industrial machines consists of both classroom training and hands-on driver training. Refresher training is needed periodically to keep operator skills up to date. OSHA does not specify a required minimum time for either the classroom or hands-on training.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalance forklift is able to balance its cargo thanks to a counterbalance built into the truck. Tines can move down and up parallel to the body of the truck. The tines do not rotate. Operators who drive counterbalanced forklifts must have training about the specific trucks they would be using and in the same workplace surroundings.
Classroom Training Programs
The forklift driver would learn the basics of the model of forklift they would be utilizing in classroom training. They would learn info about the forklifts particular things such as load, height and weight capacity. The driver will learn the basics of fueling or charging the lift truck, depending on whether the engine is battery-powered or gas-powered. Safety procedures regarding the specific truck, like how to safely walk around the lift truck, will be covered.
Supervised Driving
Driver training will be supervised to ensure that the operator would know how to properly operate the counterbalance forklift. This practical training would happen in the same kind of environment in which the operator would be working. The driver will train on the same kind of terrain with the same sorts of surrounding buildings and other structures, as well as the same vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Refresher Training
Counterbalance forklift drivers are required by OSHA to take a regular refresher training course. Nevertheless, there are no specifications as to the frequency at which an operator requires this training. However, for regular operators, refresher training programs should include classroom-style training.