Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require drivers utilizing a counterbalanced forklift to have received classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving program is finished. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training or supervised driving. What's more, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalanced forklift's weight is used to balance its load using its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but can be raised and lowered to secure and move cargo. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. 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 that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training provides information about the truck that the driver would be utilizing. This training covers aspects such as load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine along with any forklift specific safety information like for instance where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift operator has to learn how to operate the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an area which reflects the environment the operator will be driving in. This atmosphere should include the type of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures nearby, and similar pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.