Counterbalance lift truck Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anyone operating a counterbalanced forklift receive classroom or lecture style training. They also require that a supervised driving program is finished as well as 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 load using the weight of the truck. 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 forklift's body. OSHA require that individuals who will be operating counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will offer lift truck and operator information for the truck you would be operating. Most training will include certain aspects like the weight and load capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the lift truck. It covers 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 lift truck driver needs to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area that reflects the environment the driver would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic close by, and the same surrounding structures close by too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.