Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody using a counterbalanced forklift receive classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is completed. 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 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 turn. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. OSHA require that people who would be operating counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment which they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style will provide lift truck and driver information for the truck you will be utilizing. Most training would cover certain aspects such as the load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any forklift 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 driver of a forklift would need to learn to utilize the machine while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment which resembles the present environment that the driver works in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures close by, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby also. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.