Counterbalance forklift Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anyone operating a counterbalanced forklift receive classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a supervised driving program is finished in addition to periodic refresher training. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training or supervised driving. As well, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its load with the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not pivot. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. OSHA require that individuals who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they will be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training offers information regarding the truck which the driver will be driving. This training covers aspects such as weight and load 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 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 driver has to learn how to operate the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area that reflects the environment the driver would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby also. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.