Fork Lift Safety

Each year, tens of thousands of injuries related to powered industrial trucks (PIT), or forklifts, occur in US workplaces. Many employees are injured when lift trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks, lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer, they are struck by a lift truck, or when they fall while on elevated pallets and tines. Most incidents also involve property damage, including damage to overhead sprinklers, racking, pipes, walls, and machinery. Unfortunately, most employee injuries and property damage can be attributed to lack of safe operating procedures, lack of safety-rule enforcement, and insufficient or inadequate training.

Providence College employees who operate the campus forklift are properly trained and certified in accordance with OSHA standards. Training consists of both classroom and hands on training. In addition, outside contractors who intend to operate a forklift on campus must first provide evidence of training and certification.

Also note that it is a violation of Federal law for anyone UNDER 18 years of age to operate a forklift or for anyone OVER 18 years of age who is not properly trained and certified to do so.

For more information on forklift training and certification, as well as the governing OSHA standards, please click on the link below.

Safety and Health Topics: Fork Lifts