Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anyone utilizing a counterbalanced forklift receive lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a supervised driving program is finished along with periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. Moreover, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its load utilizing 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 body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who would be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they would be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will offer forklift and operator information for the truck you will be operating. Most training will include certain aspects such as the load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine as well as any lift truck specific safety information like for example 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 lift truck operator needs to learn how to drive 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 type of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby, and similar surrounding structures close by as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.