Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anyone operating a counterbalanced forklift receive lecture style or classroom 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 supervised driving or classroom training. As well, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The weight of the counterbalance forklift is used to balance its load utilizing its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but could be raised and lowered to secure and move cargo. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they will be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training offers information about the truck that the operator will be utilizing. This training includes aspects such as 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 required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The forklift driver needs to learn how to operate the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area that reflects the environment the operator will be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures nearby, and similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic nearby as well. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator needs to drive while being supervised.