Our experienced operator courses include:

• Health and Safety Responsibilities
• Basic Principles of Stability
• Operators Safety Code and Legislation
• Pre-use Inspection Procedures
• Traction Battery Maintenance and Charging
• Manoeuvring in Restricted Areas
• Manoeuvring on sloping surfaces
• Laden and Unladen Pallet Handling
• Lorry Loading and Unloading Techniques
• Pallet Racking Systems and Bulk Stacking
• Stillage and IBC Handling and Stacking
• Final Theoretical and Practical Assessments

On completion of this forklift training, drivers are fully certified to operate this category of truck. The qualification is nationally recognised and accepted throughout the industry.

• Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB)
• The accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport (ABA)
• British register of Industrial truck trainers and operators (BRITTOp)
• Member of British Safety Council

What is a Counterbalance Forklift?

The counterbalance forklift truck gets its name from the weight attached to the rear of the vehicle, that offsets the load placed on the forks. Without this weight, the forklift would become unbalanced and could tip over from the added weight.

A counterbalance forklift has forks attached at the front of the machine. As they don’t have outrigger legs and arms to steady the forklift, you can drive up close to the exact place your load is located. 

A counterbalance forklift can work indoors and outdoors as long as it has the correct tires.

Do staff need a certificate to drive a Counterbalance Forklift?

To become a counterbalance operator, you must obtain forklift certification. You don’t need experience to start training. Once you have received your certification, you will be able to operate a counterbalance forklift truck safely and legally.

What are the benefits of Counterbalance Forklift Trucks for Businesses?

Large Capacity Vehicle

The larger the vehicle, the more weight it can carry. On average, counterbalance forklifts can lift between 1.8T to 48T, so they can be used for a wide variety of operations.

Variety of fuel types

Counterbalance forklift trucks can be powered by a variety of fuel types to suit your workplace. Some are electric, diesel or an LPG forklift. The type of power can be dependant on your unique operation, for example, battery powered forklifts can be better for indoor operation as they don’t emit harmful gases, but diesel powered counterbalance forklifts  are ideal for lifting and manoeuvring larger, heavy loads.

Indoor and outdoor use 

Counterbalance trucks can be adapted to different environments, both indoor and outdoor. Different tyres can be installed to suit your workplace and environment, for example non marking tyres are ideal for indoor use  as the will not damage flooring.

Do staff need in-house or National Forklift training?

In-house counterbalance training

In-house forklift training is an option for companies that who want their employees trained on particular equipment or for a specific job role.

In-house training limits individuals to only be able to perform their role they were specifically trained to do in their everyday work environment. If the employee was to be transferred to a different workplace or get a new job, then the certificate they receive would not cover them. In other words, in-house training restricts staff to only be able to work in the environment they were trained in.

National counterbalance training

National forklift training is a much broader option and covers employees across the UK and Northern Ireland. The main benefit of national training is that the operator is not restricted to a particular workplace. Some companies book national training for their employees if they work at multiple sites or if it is suitable for their job role.

National training is a more comprehensive version of practical lift truck training, which covers everything their job role as an operator could entail.

Individuals who book and pay for their own training are likely to need national training.

Do I need refresher training?

Our counterbalance forklift refresher course is aimed at trained operators who need or wish to refresh their driving skills. This course will reaffirm current relevant legislation, best practice and safe use of counterbalance forklift trucks.

Forklift refresher training for forklifts should be taken every 3 years. 

What subjects does your Counterbalance Training include?

Our nationally recognised comprehensive counterbalance practical course incudes the following challenges that operators face:

Load balance

Operators of counterbalance forklift trucks need to understand the concepts of weight distribution and balance to prevent accidents including cargo being dropped or damaged, or the truck tipping over. 

Operation and control

Delegates learn how to control and maintain control of forklifts. Operating a counterbalance is more complex than other types of forklift, so learning how to smoothly operate the forks takes experience and high quality training to master effectively and safely.

Field of vision

When operators add a load or cargo, field of vision can be compromised so delegates learn how to manage limited vision when operating a counterbalance forklift.

Speed

Forklifts can move quickly, often much faster than they are able to stop. Delegates learn how to manage pedestrian traffic and manoeuvring the vehicle in their workspace. 

Sloped Surfaces

Operators need to learn how to compensate for sloped surfaces and how to provide stability.