Counterbalance Forklift Training
Based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies, anybody who uses a counterbalanced lift truck should receive training. Training for these types of industrial machinery includes both classroom training and hands-on driver training. Refresher training is needed periodically to keep driver skills up to date. OSHA does not specify a minimum time requirement for either the hands-on or classroom training.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its load using a counterbalance built into the truck. The blades move up and down parallel to the body of the truck. The tines do not rotate. Drivers who use counterbalanced lift trucks must receive training on the specific lift trucks they will be operating and in the same workplace environment.
Classroom Training Courses
The forklift driver will be taught the basics of the model of forklift they would be utilizing in classroom training. They will learn info about the lift trucks particular things such as load, height and weight capacity. The operator would learn the basics of fueling or charging the lift truck, which depends on whether the engine is battery-powered or gas-powered. Safety procedures regarding the specific lift truck, like for instance how to walk safely around the forklift, would be included.
Supervised Driving
Driver training will be supervised to ensure that the operator will know how to correctly operate the counterbalance forklift. This practical training program would happen in the same kind of environment in which the driver would be working. The driver will train on the same kind of terrain with the same sorts of nearby buildings and other structures, as well as the same vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Refresher Training
Though OSHA requires periodic refresher training for counterbalanced forklift operators, there are no specifications that determine the frequency of refresher training or its contents. However, for regular operators, refresher training courses must comprise classroom-style training.