Counterbalance lift truck Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anybody using a counterbalanced forklift be given lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a supervised driving program is completed along with periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. In addition, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its cargo with the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. OSHA require that individuals who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be correctly trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training offers information regarding the truck which the driver will be using. This training covers aspects such as weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine as well as any lift truck specific safety information including 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 has to learn how to operate the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in a place which reflects the environment the driver will be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by, and similar surrounding structures nearby too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.