Counterbalance forklift Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anyone using a counterbalanced lift truck be given lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving program is completed. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. Additionally, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The weight of the counterbalance forklift is utilized to balance its cargo utilizing its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but could be raised and lowered to secure and transport cargo. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who will be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be correctly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment that they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training provides information about the truck that the driver would be driving. This training covers aspects like load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine along with any lift truck 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 minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The lift truck driver needs to learn how to use the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area which reflects the environment the driver will be driving in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures nearby, and the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.