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Powered Industrial Truck Safety Training

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Operator Training and Certification 

The operator must complete the following prior to being authorized to operate a powered industrial truck (PIT) at Virginia Tech. 

  1. The operator must complete Powered Industrial Truck training (available online). Training topics include:
    • How forklifts operate differently from a car. 
    • The types of tires on forklifts. 
    • Forklift attachments and requirements, such as additional counter balances, personnel lift cages, and fork extenders. 
    • Basic engineering principles, such as the center of gravity, the stability triangle, and stability while lifting or moving. 
    • Safe operating principles, such as travel and speed, pedestrian right-of-way, parking, and the importance of seatbelts in a rollover. 
    • Daily inspection and maintenance. 
    • Other safety considerations, such as fire extinguishers, alarms, lights, and traffic signals.
  2. The operator must review and understand pertinent information in the operator's manual as specified by the manufacturer prior to attempting to operate the lift.
    • Safe and proper use 
    • Pre-use inspection 
    • Limitations of the equipment (e.g. maximum capacity)
    • Note: The supervisor, operator, and Environmental Health & Safety trainer will be required to sign off on the certification form that these areas have been addressed prior to observing and finalizing operator training and certification.
  3. Operators must receive training on the make and model of PIT to be used from their supervisor or designee, including how to properly inspect and operate the PIT under supervision.
    • Reporting deficiencies if the PIT does not pass inspection 
    • Required fall protection systems associated with the PIT, if applicable
    • Supervised operation to develop proficiency.
  4. Complete the Observation Form and schedule a time with EHS or your Departmental Safety Representative (if applicable) to have your operating skills reviewed.
  5. Your operator card will be sent to your supervisor or Designated Safety Rep through campus mail.

Certification

Certification will be given for each type of PIT that the operator will be using, and indicated on your operator card, such as:

  • Sit down forklifts
  • Stand up forklifts
  • 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 forklifts
  • Rough-terrain straight-mast forklifts

If a different type of PIT needs to be added to your certification, contact EHS or your Designated Safety Rep to complete the observation portion only of the process.

Certification is valid for 3 years. Note that online training is required every six years, and observations are scheduled every three years, in order to stay current. 

Fall Protection

Where personal fall arrest systems are required to be used (i.e. high-lift order pickers) in conjunction with the lift, training will involve the proper donning, fit, and use of the full-body harness, as well as the location of the approved anchor point on the lift. 

Retraining

Additional training by Environmental Health & Safety may be required under the following conditions:

  • The forklift is operated unsafely.
  • The operator is involved in an accident or near-miss involving a forklift.
  • The operator evaluation indicates a need for additional training and/or practice.
  • A different type of forklift is to be used.