Counterbalance Forklift Training
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, anybody who operates a counterbalanced forklift must receive training. Training for these types of industrial vehicles includes both hands-on driver training and classroom training. Refresher training is necessary periodically 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 lift truck balances its load utilizing a counterbalance built into the truck. The tines move up and down parallel to the truck's body. The blades do not rotate. Operators who drive counterbalanced lift trucks should have training about the particular forklifts they will be driving and in the same workplace environment.
Classroom Training
The lift truck operator will be taught the basics of the model of lift truck they would be using in classroom training. They would learn info regarding the forklifts specific things like height, weight and load capacity. The operator will be taught the basics of fueling or charging the forklift, which depends on whether it is a gas-powered or battery-powered engine. Safety procedures pertaining to the particular forklift, like for example how to walk safely around the forklift, would be covered.
Supervised Driving
Driver training would be supervised to make sure that the driver will know how to properly operate the counterbalance forklift. This practical training program would occur in the same kind of setting in which the driver will be working. The driver will train with the same sorts of surrounding buildings and other structures on the same kind of terrain, as well as similar pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Refresher Training Courses
Although OSHA requires periodic refresher training for counterbalanced lift truck drivers, there are no specifications that determine the frequency of refresher training or its contents. Then again, for regular drivers, refresher training has to incorporate classroom-style training.