Counterbalance lift truck Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anybody operating a counterbalanced lift truck receive lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is finished. 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
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo utilizing 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 individuals who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment which they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training provides information regarding the truck that the driver will be driving. This training includes 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 oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The operator of a lift truck would need to learn to utilize the equipment while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment which resembles the present environment which the operator works in. This atmosphere must include the type of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby also. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.