Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody using a counterbalanced lift truck receive lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a supervised driving program is finished as well as periodic refresher training. 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
The counterbalanced lift truck's weight is utilized to balance its load utilizing its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but can be lowered and raised to secure and move cargo. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that drivers who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training provides information about the truck that the driver would be driving. This training includes aspects such as load and weight capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the forklift. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any lift truck specific safety information like where to stand when walking around the truck. Either written and/or oral testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The lift truck operator has to learn how to use the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in a place that reflects the environment the driver will be driving in. This atmosphere should include the type of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator needs to drive while being supervised.