Counterbalance forklift Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators utilizing a counterbalanced lift truck to have received lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a periodic refresher training along with a supervised driving program is completed. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. What's more, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its cargo using the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go down and up 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 which they would be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will provide lift truck and operator information for the truck you would be operating. Most training would include certain aspects like the load and weight capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any forklift specific safety information like where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The driver of a lift truck would need to learn to operate the machine while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment which resembles the present environment that the driver works in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by, and the same surrounding structures close by too. There is no required minimum number of hours the operator needs to drive while being supervised.