[Kojo1970]

PIT as “any mobile power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials.” Most people think of PITs as forklifts. Though forklifts come in many shapes and sizes, they are all regulated under OSHA’s PIT standard, 29 CFR § 1910.178. PITs also include manlifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts and motorized hand trucks. Though this article will often refer to forklifts, the requirements apply to all PITs. Earth moving and over the road haulage trucks are not included in the definition of PIT. Equipment that was designed to move earth but has been modified to accept forks are also not included.

Forklifts present many potential hazards: a pedestrian can be struck by a forklift; a load can fall off a forklift onto a person or the operator; the forklift can fall off a ledge or tip if driven on an uneven surface; a forklift can fall between a loading dock and a truck trailer. Frequently, an accident involving a forklift results in serious injury or a fatality. To address these hazards, OSHA sets out a comprehensive set of standards for training, maintenance, and operation of forklifts. OSHA also requires initial certification and recertification of forklift drivers every three years. If forklift certifications or maintenance records are falsified, OSHA has a history of seeking criminal sanctions to enforce its standards.

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