Powered Industrial Truck Safety Summary

Applies to:

This program applies to all personnel who operate forklifts and motorized pallet jacks (i.e. powered industrial trucks - PIT) for work-related purposes.

Requirements

Virginia Tech requires that all powered industrial trucks (PIT) operators be trained and certified. This includes online information on the safe use of the PIT and an operator evaluation (observation).

Purpose

The university requires training and certification in powered industrial truck operation (PIT) to assure that operators have a basic understanding of related hazards and safe operation of the specific equipment used by the department.

Application

Each department that owns or uses PITs must ensure that all operators are authorized by the department to use such equipment, and are trained and certified by Environmental Health & Safety.

Scope

This program applies to all motorized material handling equipment being operated by Virginia Tech personnel regardless of location and includes:

Sit down powered industrial trucks
Stand up powered industrial trucks
Low-lift pallet jacks (walk-behind)
High-lift pallet jacks (walk-behind)
High-lift order pickers
High-lift reach riders
Sit down rider tractors with forks
Bobcats with forks
Rough-terrain extended-reach powered industrial trucks
Rough-terrain straight-mast powered industrial trucks