Powered Industrial Truck Safety 221

Powered Industrial Truck Safety provides an overview of safety topics related to forklifts and other PITs. OSHA has many standards surrounding the use of PITs in the workplace for operators, non-operators, attended vehicles, and unattended vehicles. OSHA also has detailed training requirements for PIT operators. To safely operate a PIT, operators must understand basic principles of stability, including the concepts of a fulcrum and centers of gravity. Operators must also be aware of the weight and shape of loads and what individual vehicles are capable of handling. Powered industrial trucks are a common source of workplace accidents, so a strong knowledge of how to safely operate and work with PITs is crucial for any environment where they are used. PIT accidents can lead to property and inventory damage as well as employee injury. Operators should know how to avoid OSHA violations and how to handle a load without tipping the vehicle.