Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require drivers utilizing a counterbalanced lift truck to have received classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a supervised driving program is completed 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 forklift balances its cargo using the truck's weight. 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 properly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment which they will be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training offers information about the truck that the driver will be utilizing. This training includes aspects like 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 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 lift truck driver has to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area which reflects the environment the operator will be driving in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures close by, and similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.