Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody using a counterbalanced lift truck receive classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training along with a supervised driving program is finished. There is no minimum time requirement for the supervised driving or classroom training. Also, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalanced lift truck's weight is used to balance its load using its own weight. The forklift forks are in a fixed position but could be lowered and raised to secure and transport 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 trained on the trucks while being in the kind of setting that they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training offers information regarding the truck which the driver would be using. This training includes aspects like weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any lift truck specific safety information including where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift operator has to learn how to use the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an area which reflects the environment the operator would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby also. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.