Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anyone using a counterbalanced forklift receive classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is completed. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training or supervised driving. Furthermore, 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 could be raised and lowered to secure and transport cargo. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who will be operating counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style would provide lift truck and driver information for the truck you will be utilizing. Most training will cover certain 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 along with any forklift specific safety information like where to stand when walking around the truck. Either written and/or oral testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift operator has to learn how to use the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in a place which reflects the environment the driver would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she will be traveling on, have similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby, and the same surrounding structures nearby as well. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.