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 supervised driving program is completed as well as periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. As well, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo with the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. OSHA require that drivers who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be correctly trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they will be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom would offer forklift and driver information for the truck you would be utilizing. 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 in addition to any lift truck 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 minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The operator of a lift truck would need to learn to drive the machinery 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 must include the kind of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.