Counterbalance Forklift Training Courses
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies, anybody who operates a counterbalanced forklift is required to have training. Training for these kinds of industrial machinery includes both classroom training and hands-on driver training. Refresher training is needed occasionally in order 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
The counterbalance forklift can balance its load due to a counterbalance built into the truck. Tines can move down and up parallel to the truck's body. The tines do not pivot. Operators driving counterbalanced forklifts must have training about the particular lift trucks they would be driving and in the same workplace environment.
Classroom Training
The forklift driver would learn the basics of the model of forklift they would be using in classroom training. They would learn info regarding the forklifts specific things like height, weight and load capacity. The driver will learn the basics of fueling or charging the forklift, depending on whether the engine is gas-powered or battery-powered. Safety measures regarding the particular forklift, like how to walk safely around the lift truck, would be included.
Supervised Driving
Supervised driver training will ensure the lift truck operator knows how to use the counterbalanced lift truck. This practical training course will occur in the same type of environment in which the operator would be working. The operator will train with the same kinds of surrounding buildings and other structures on the same type of terrain, as well as the same pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Refresher Training Courses
Though 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 operators, refresher training programs should include classroom-style training.