This past week, we had the opportunity to travel to beautiful 🇺🇸 Rhode Island to work hands-on with a company focused on improving its forklift safety program. What we discovered wasn’t surprising but it was urgent.
📈 Across the U.S., forklift-related injuries and fatalities are on the rise. From warehouses to distribution centers, we’re seeing more incidents involving:
• Poor training (or no training at all)
• Uninspected equipment
• Operators using powered pallet jacks (yes, they’re considered forklifts!) without proper certification
🔍 In fact, OSHA has issued a Local Emphasis Program (LEP) for Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs) right here in Ohio and all of Region 5 due to the growing number of accidents. That’s not just paperwork—it’s a warning ⚠️. So, what does a strong PIT safety program need? Let’s break it down ⬇️
📚 1. Solid Training Program
• Every PIT operator must receive formal training, practical evaluation, and authorization to operate
• Operators should demonstrate competency—not just “complete a checklist”
• If someone isn’t ready, we don’t hand them a license 🚫. Instead, we support them with additional coaching in controlled environments
🧾 2. Documented Evaluations & Refresher Training
• OSHA requires re-evaluation every 3 years, or sooner if there’s an incident
• Powered pallet jacks are often skipped in training, yet are just as dangerous
🛠️ 3. Daily Inspections—Done Right
• Forklifts must be inspected before each shift, and defects must be reported
• Missing safety components? Remove it from service.
Some critical items include:
🔧 Seatbelts
🔧 Working horns
🔧 Brakes
🔧 Overhead guards
🔧 Properly functioning tilt/lift mechanisms
🔧 Warning lights & backup alarms
🚫 If it’s broken, don’t bandaid it. Tag it out. Remove it. Repair it. Period.
📌 The truth is: A compliant PIT program isn’t just about avoiding citations—it’s about protecting lives and making sure everyone goes home the same way they came in.
📞 If your company hasn’t evaluated its forklift training, inspection, and operations program recently, now’s the time.
At Coia Safety & Consultative Services, we offer on-site, all-day evaluations that go beyond the surface. We provide detailed observations, compliance assessments, and actionable next steps that protect your people and your productivity. Let’s get your program up to standard—and beyond.