Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anyone utilizing a counterbalanced forklift be given lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a supervised driving course is finished along with periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. What's more, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo using 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 people who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will provide forklift and driver information for the truck you will be using. Most training would cover several aspects like the load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine along with any lift truck specific safety information like 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 forklift would need to learn to utilize the machine while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an environment which resembles the existing environment which the operator works in. This atmosphere should include the type of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures nearby, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.