Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators using a counterbalanced lift truck to have received lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is finished. There is no minimum time requirement for the supervised driving or classroom training. Moreover, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo utilizing the truck's weight. 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 would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment which they would be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training provides information about the truck that the operator will be utilizing. 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 driver of a forklift would need to learn to drive the machinery while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment which resembles the present environment that the operator works in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures close by, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.