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 along with a supervised driving program is completed. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. Additionally, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its cargo utilizing the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go down and up and do not pivot. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom would offer forklift and operator information for the truck you would be driving. Most training would cover certain aspects such as the weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It includes 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 lift truck operator has to learn how to operate the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in a place which reflects the environment the driver will be driving in. This atmosphere must include the type of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures close by, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.