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