Counterbalance forklift Training
The OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that anybody using a counterbalanced lift truck be given classroom or lecture style training. They additionally require that a supervised driving course is finished in addition to periodic refresher training. 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
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo with the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. OSHA require that drivers who will be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be correctly trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style would offer forklift and driver information for the truck you will be using. Most training would cover certain aspects such as the load and weight capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine as well as 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 lift truck operator needs to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced lift truck while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in a place which reflects the environment the operator would be driving in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she will be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures nearby, and similar pedestrian and vehicle traffic close by as well. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.