What Is A Powered Industrial Truck?
A powered industrial truck (PIT) is an important piece of equipment that is used to transfer material, products, machinery, etc., through the facility.
Forklifts are one of the most common powered industrial trucks and are great assets to have when used properly. However, when operated incorrectly, they can cause tremendous damage to equipment, the property, and even your employees!
What Does OSHA Require?
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide employees who drive powered industrial trucks proper training to prevent accidents and injuries while operating the vehicles. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(I) requires that employees need to go through training on vehicle operation, inspections and maintenance. All drivers must be over 18 years of age.
Classes of Powered Industrial Trucks
Did you know that there are 7 different classes of Powered Industrial Trucks? If you drive more than one class of Powered Industrial Trucks, you need to be trained and certified on each class.
For example, if you have one Forklift Operator Card for a Class I Forklift, but also drive a Class VII vehicle, you need to have a Certification Card for the Class VII equipment as well. Recertification also needs to be completed every 3 years.
Lancaster Safety Consulting, Inc. provides onsite OSHA Training & Compliance nationwide. We can help your company with Powered Industrial Truck Training and Certifications, just give us a call at (724) 204-2350 or visit our website at LancasterSafety.com.
Learn About the 7 Classes of Powered Industrial Trucks
Powered Industrial Truck Operators need to be trained and certified on each class of equipment they drive. Recertification must take place at least every 3 years.
What to Expect in our Safety Training
This class is designed to provide safety training for Powered Industrial Trucks Operators. It is NOT basic vocational training and operators are expected to know how to at least operate the equipment.
A classroom style presentation will be conducted by our Safety Consultant before the hands-on exercises. This includes operating hazards, stability triangle, combined actions, pre-operation inspection, nameplates, operating a lift truck, tipping, loading/unloading, traveling, ramps and railroad tracks, docks, parking, unattended fork trucks, and propane refueling.
Prior to our training, employers must assure that the prospective operators have reviewed all pertinent information found in the specific operators manual, instruction on the equipment controls and have been provided supervised practice on the forklift. A collaborative effort needs to occur to make sure your team knows how to operate the equipment, safely.
After this training, your team should know how to work around the equipment safely, be responsible for the equipment itself, and understand what habits operators need to develop and maintain in order for safe operation to occur.
After completion of this course, participants who pass the course will receive Powered Industrial Truck Certification Cards, which are valid for 3 years.
When is Forklift Refresher Training Needed?
Powered Industrial Truck Certifications are valid for 3 years. However, refresher training needs to be provided in the following circumstances:
- A condition of the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the vehicle
- The operator is unsafely operating the vehicle
- An accident or near-miss incident occurs
- The driver received an evaluation that reveals that they are not driving safely
- The operator has been assigned to drive a different type of truck
| TRAINING IS OFFERED AT YOUR LOCATION: | TRAINING IS OFFERED IN A LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: | TRAINING IS OFFERED IN OUR ONLINE OSHA TRAINING CENTER: | HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD THIS TOPIC BE TRAINED ON: | IS A WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAM NEEDED FOR THIS TOPIC? |
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Initially upon hire, Retraining is recommended at least annually | Recommended |
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