Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators utilizing a counterbalanced lift truck to have received lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is finished. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. Additionally, 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 down and up 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 correctly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of setting which they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training provides information about the truck which the driver would be utilizing. This training covers aspects like weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine along with any forklift 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 forklift operator needs to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in a place which reflects the environment the driver would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by, and the same surrounding structures nearby also. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.