Powered Industrial Trucks Bulletin

OSHA operation regulations for powered industrial trucks or forklifts.

• Trucks must not be driven up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object.
• No person is allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, whether loaded or empty.
• Unauthorized personnel is not permitted to ride on PITs. A safe place to ride must be provided where riding of trucks is authorized.
• Placing arms or legs between the uprights of the mast or outside the running lines of the truck is prohibited.
• When left unattended, forks must be fully lowered, controls placed in neutral, power shut off, and brakes set. Wheels must be blocked if the truck is parked on an incline.
• A safe distance must be maintained from the edge of ramps or platforms while on any elevated dock, platform, or freight car.
• There must be sufficient headroom under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.
• An overhead guard should be used as protection against falling objects.
• All traffic regulations must be observed.
• All emergency vehicles must be yielded to.
• Railroad tracks must be crossed diagonally whenever possible.
• The driver must slow down and sound the horn at cross-aisles where vision is obstructed.
• Grades must be ascended or descended slowly.
• When ascending or descending grades in excess of 10 percent, loaded trucks should be driven with the load upgrade.
• Stunt driving and horseplay are not permitted.
• The driver is required to slow down for wet and slippery floors.
• Make sure dock boards/bridge plates are properly secured before driven over.
• Elevators should be approached slowly, and then entered squarely after the elevator car is properly leveled. Once on the elevator, the controls shall be neutralized, power shut off, and the brakes set.
• Motorized hand trucks must enter the elevator or other confined areas with load-end forward.
• Only loads within the loaded capacity of the truck and stable loads should be handled.
• Defective or unsafe PITs must be taken out of service.
• Fuel tanks must not be filled while the engine is running.