Death by Forklift is Really the PITs

Powered Industrial Trucks are critical to many industries. By implementing a forklift safety program and effective training, you can ensure that this asset doesn't become a liability.

The owner of a machinery and equipment training school was killed while filming a forklift safety video. He was thrown from the forklift and crushed. The investigation revealed the fatality was due to driver error, high speed over rough terrain, and an unused seat belt. Unfortunately, this type of forklift fatality is all too common. OSHA statistics indicate that there are roughly 85 forklift fatalities and 34,900 serious injuries each year, with 42 percent of the forklift fatalities from the operator's being crushed by a tipping vehicle.

The safest place for the driver to be is strapped into the seat with a seat belt. According to OSHA, its enforcement policy on the use of seat belts on powered industrial trucks is that "employers are obligated to require operators of powered industrial trucks which are equipped with operator restraint devices or seat belts to use the devices." Compliance officers will enforce the use of such devices under Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, the General Duty Clause.

OSHA has established detailed regulations for operation of "powered industrial trucks," which include all types of material-handling vehicles, from forktrucks to powered pallet jacks to order-pickers. The Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) regulations can be found at 29 CFR 1910.178. Incorporated into the regulation by reference, ANSI B56.1-1969 covers the design and construction requirements for PITs.

The OSHA regulation provides specific designations for PITs based on the type of power source and safeguards. In addition, "designated locations" are identified, such as hazardous atmospheres. The regulation also covers a variety of other topics, including operation, maintenance, and regular, documented inspections of the vehicles. One critical part of the regulation covers operator training.

PITs can be especially unforgiving under the wrong conditions. Operators need to understand that PITs are very different from regular vehicles in the way they maneuver and are balanced. Employees who have never driven a PIT will not have the innate knowledge and skill to drive one without training. For this reason, much of the required training is focused on operation, load capacity, stability, and operating limitations.

This article originally appeared in the September 2013 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.