Counterbalance Forklift Training
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, anyone who operates a counterbalanced lift truck is required to receive training. Training for these kinds of industrial machines consists of both classroom training and hands-on driver training. Refresher training is necessary occasionally to keep operator skills up to date. OSHA does not specify a minimum time requirement for either the hands-on or classroom training.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its load utilizing a counterbalance built into the truck. The forks move down and up parallel to the truck's body. The blades do not rotate. Operators who drive counterbalanced lift trucks must receive training about the particular trucks they will be utilizing and in the same workplace setting.
Classroom Training Programs
The forklift operator would be taught the basics of the model of lift truck they would be using in classroom training. They will learn info about the lift trucks particular things such as load, height and weight capacity. The operator would be taught the basics of charging or fueling the lift truck, depending on whether it is a battery-powered or gas-powered engine. Safety procedures pertaining to the specific truck, like how to safely walk around the forklift, would be covered.
Supervised Driving
Driver training would be supervised to make certain that the driver will know how to correctly operate the counterbalance lift truck. This practical training would happen in the same type of setting wherein the operator would be working. The operator will train with the same types of nearby buildings and other structures on the same type of terrain, as well as similar pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Refresher Training Programs
Although OSHA requires periodic refresher training for counterbalanced forklift drivers, there are no specifications determining the frequency of refresher training or its contents. However, for regular drivers, refresher training should comprise classroom-style training.