Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody utilizing a counterbalanced lift truck be given lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a supervised driving course is completed along with periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. Also, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its load with the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not pivot. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. OSHA require that people who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom would provide forklift and operator information for the truck you will be using. Most training will include certain aspects like the weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine along with any lift truck specific safety information like where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift operator needs to learn how to operate the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an area that reflects the environment the driver would be driving in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby, and the same surrounding structures close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.