![]() ![]() Within 1910.178, OSHA categorizes all forklifts into seven PIT classes (broken down by their various functions, fuel sources, and even tire types). PITs can be defined as any mobile power-propelled vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials, and that can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator. In my region, paper mills call them “tow motors,” warehouses may refer to them as “stackers,” and builders tend to use “telehandlers” in lieu of “rough terrain forklifts.” OSHA uses the all-encompassing phrase “powered industrial trucks,” or PITs, when referring to forklifts in its 1910.178 standard. Descriptive, task-oriented names (such as “side loader, high-lift pallet” forklift) aside, forklifts are often referred to in more colloquial terms. ![]() Forklift Classification Explainedįorklift terminology is fairly complex. I charge $175 per person, but similar programs can range anywhere from $150 to $600 per person. “Train the Trainer” is a six-hour course in which I review OSHA regulations how to evaluate an operator’s performance during a driving test and how to properly operate and maintain forklifts in terms of their controls, attachments, maintenance, rules of the road, and so on. The goal of the course is to help small businesses become self-sufficient regarding forklift operator training (upon successfully attending the class, individuals are certified to train fellow workers at their own place of employment). To help close that resource gap, I run “Train the Trainer” courses several times a year. In the region where I work, small businesses (as opposed to the large manufacturing and commercial construction companies I normally consult with) often lack the resources for safety training. Training costs are far cheaper than OSHA fines, and I believe most contractors want to build correctly and keep their people safe, but they may not always know where to begin. The good news is there are steps you can take (which I’ll outline in the following article) to prepare for that hypothetical day when they visit, though it will cost some money and take some time to be “legal” in the eyes of OSHA. Vehicle tip-overs can occur if load limits are not adhered to. They can be challenging to operate drivers have to contend with stability issues related to projected loads from telescoping booms and uneven surfaces. Seth Stafford Numerous makes and models with varying reach and load-lifting capacities can be found on residential sites today. Aerial lifts tend to attract watchful eyes. ![]() While it’s true that safety officials (OSHA) are more likely to inspect large commercial jobsites than residential or multifamily ones, they will visit any site where incidents have occurred or where complaints have been made. In this article, I’ll focus on Class VII rough terrain forklifts (particularly variable-reach types with telescoping booms) as they relate to home builders and remodelers. OSHA defines powered industrial trucks (PITs) as any mobile power-propelled vehicle that is used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials, and that can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator (see “Forklift Classification Explained,” below). A significant portion of my business deals with forklift operator training (or more precisely, powered industrial truck operator training). My clientele has ranged from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. I’ve been involved in industrial safety training and education since 1983, and for the last 16 years, I’ve been a self-employed safety consultant. Reaping those benefits, however, requires an array of skills and knowledge to operate these vehicles responsibly on site-skills and knowledge that have to be validated, either by third-party safety trainers, like myself, or by individuals who have attended training-the-trainer-type classes (more on this below), or by the vendors renting the equipment. Whether rented or owned, these forklifts save time, labor, and money their appeal is undeniable. The presence of rough terrain forklifts on jobsites has become much more common over the last decade.
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