Counterbalance lift truck Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anyone using a counterbalanced forklift be given classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training in addition to a supervised driving course is completed. There is no required minimum time for the classroom training or supervised driving. As well, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
The counterbalanced lift truck's weight is used to balance its load using its own weight. The lift truck forks are in a fixed position but could be lowered and raised to secure and transport cargo. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment that they would be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style would offer forklift and driver information for the truck you would be using. Most training would include certain aspects like the load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any lift truck specific safety information like for instance 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 forklift operator needs to learn how to use the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in a place which reflects the environment the operator will be driving in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby, and the same surrounding structures nearby as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.