Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anyone using a counterbalanced forklift receive classroom or lecture style 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
A counterbalanced forklift balances its load with 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 individuals who will be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Lecture style training or classroom training offers information regarding the truck that the operator will be using. This training includes aspects like weight and load capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the lift truck. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine along with any forklift 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 lift truck operator has to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced forklift 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 should include the type of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures close by, and similar vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by too. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.