Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody utilizing a counterbalanced forklift be given classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training as well as a supervised driving program is finished. There is no minimum time requirement for the supervised driving or classroom training. In addition, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its cargo with 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 individuals who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom would offer forklift and driver information for the truck you will be using. Most training will 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 forklift 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 driver of a lift truck will need to learn to operate the machine while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment that resembles the existing environment that the driver works in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she will be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures close by, and the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.