As a warehouse pick manager, nothing worries me more than the possibility of one of my employees getting injured on their powered industrial truck (PIT). Therefore, I stay fully committed to promoting awareness and sharing essential PIT safety tips to help prevent incidents and keep everyone safe on the floor. I’ve dealt with a wide range of PIT incidents, including no-hookup near misses, traffic accidents, and broken bones.
I’ve had nightmares of employees stepping off the platform without their lanyards attached. Despite freak accidents, which we never really can account for, there are so many ways to significantly reduce the likelihood of a PIT incident happening with some well-considered tips on pit safety.
Free checklist!
Your employees can use this checklist to perform a full PIT inspection before starting work activities. It’s a straightforward way to incorporate vital tips for PIT safety on a regular basis.
PIT safety tips
Preventing these types of incidents, in large part, depends on a combination of personal responsibility and control measures that make it impossible for workers to make an error. Therefore, implementing effective safety tips for pits is pivotal.
- Look up and hook up the second you step onto the PIT platform.
- Double check that your fall safety harness is securely fastened to the lanyard.
- Look both ways before making a turn, exiting an aisle, or crossing an intersection.
- Complete a thorough PIT inspection before exiting the parking zone.
- Check to ensure that your PIT can clear overhead fixtures before passing under them.
- Ensure that there are no boxes or other debris resting on the overhead guard.
- Detach the fall harness when not in use, as this can wear it out the lanyard mechanism.
- Never use electronic devices like phones or scanners while the PIT is in motion.
- Remove any trash from the equipment before leaving your shift.
- Always give pedestrians the right of way.
- Stop completely before raising or lowering a load.
- As a safety tip, before parking your PIT, make sure to refuel it.
- Stop and honk your horn at the end of each aisle and every stop sign.
- Keep the platform clear of trash and recycling items.
- While driving, keep a safe distance of three PIT lengths from other operators.
- Always keep your eyes on the path of travel.
- Check that the load is balanced before attempting to lift and move it.
- Stack loads squarely on top of one another.
These tips are applicable to a variety of PIT equipment, including order pickers, forklifts, and reach trucks. Following these safety guidelines helps to maintain a secure environment with essential pit safety tips.
Training workers to drive safely
From day one, workers should understand the role they play in the prevention of safety accidents. The training process is the best place to instill these essential habits for PIT safety. Emphasizing proper pit safety tips can prevent many mishaps.
If you want some inspiration for how to do this, check out my guide to improving your PIT training program.
Powered industrial trucks represent a major safety hazard when operated unsafely and poorly maintained. Use these valuable pit safety tips to create habits and control measures that reduce these hazards significantly.
