Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody using a counterbalanced lift truck receive classroom or lecture style training. They also require that a periodic refresher training along with a supervised driving course is completed. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. Moreover, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The weight of the counterbalance forklift is used to balance its load utilizing its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but can be raised and lowered to secure and transport cargo. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that individuals who would be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of setting that they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training provides information regarding the truck which the driver would be using. This training covers aspects like weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any forklift specific safety information like for example where to stand when walking around the truck. Either written and/or oral testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift driver has to learn how to operate the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an area that reflects the environment the driver will be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby, and the same surrounding structures nearby too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.