Counterbalance lift truck Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anybody using a counterbalanced lift truck be given classroom or lecture style training. They additionally 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. Additionally, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalanced lift truck's weight is used to balance its cargo using its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but can be lowered and raised to secure and move cargo. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. OSHA require that drivers who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will provide lift truck and driver information for the truck you will be utilizing. Most training would include several aspects like the load and weight capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine as well as any lift truck specific safety information including 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 driver of a lift truck will have to learn to utilize the machinery while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an environment which resembles the existing environment that the operator works in. This atmosphere must include the type of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic close by, and similar surrounding structures close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.