BOP Program Statement 1614.01 § 23

OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.178 addresses requirements for powered industrial truck operation

used in general industry settings.

A Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) is an industrial truck powered by an electric motor or internal

combustion engine used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials. The forklift is the most

common PIT; however, other vehicles that are designed under ANSI B56 are also considered

PITs.

 Golf carts, earth moving equipment, and other industrial vehicles whose original design does

not fall under ANSI B56, are not considered powered industrial trucks under 1910.178

regardless of alterations or how the vehicle is used. However, these vehicles must be

operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements. Any alterations

must be approved in writing by the manufacturer. In addition, the operators must be trained

in accordance with the manufacturers’ requirements.

PITs must be operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements.

Modifications to or the use of attachments with the PIT must be performed or approved in

writing by the manufacturer.

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The operator manual must be maintained in a legible condition and readily accessible within the

PIT operational area. It is recommended additional copies of the operator manual be maintained

in the Environmental and Safety Compliance Department.

A survey must be conducted to identify PITs being operated within the institution. Upon

completion of the survey, each institution must ensure a program is in place for all PITs. The

program must meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.178, and any additional requirements

noted in the manufacturer’s operator manual.

a. Training. Operators of these vehicles must be trained to operate the vehicle in accordance

with the manufacturer’s recommendations as outlined in the operator manual. Training must be

documented and include, at a minimum:

 Name of the operator

 Date of training

 Date of the evaluation

 Name and signature of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation. An operator’s

performance must be re-evaluated every three years.

Retraining must be performed when the operator is involved in an accident.

b. Inspections. A pre-use inspection of the PIT must be completed each shift. This inspection

must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and documented.

At a minimum, the following must be inspected:

 Cage over the driver’s compartment, if capable of lifting loads above the height of the

driver

 Seat belt or similar restraints, if required by the manufacturer

 Backup alarm that sounds when the truck reverses

 Strobe light, if vehicle is used indoors

 Horn

Pre-use inspection documentation must be retained for a minimum of 30 days. Inspections are

not required during a shift when the vehicle is not being operated.

Additional visual inspections must be conducted throughout the shift any time the vehicle has

been left unattended. These inspections are not required to be documented.

Vehicles with modifications not approved by the manufacturer, defective or damaged safety

devices, operational systems, controls, and structural features must be removed from service

until repaired by authorized service personnel.

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Battery charging and propane fuel tank storage must be at designated locations approved by the

SA.

PITs must not be used to tow trailers unless approved in writing by the manufacturer.