What You Think PIT?
My friend Herb, asked me is this was a PIT. He has this machine that has been deactivated and a brand new one. It is what I cab best describe as a, "1/2 Motorized Pallet Jack". What I mean by that it uses an electric motor to lift up to 2,000 pounds, but has to be pushed manually to move the load and machine from place to place. From what Herb said a full motorized pallet jack is twice as much. This model new is about $5,000. A full motorized pallet jacks is about $10,000. Herb was disappointed when I answered that I was pretty sure it was a PIT! I have always been taught if it had a motor it was a PIT.
1910.178(a)(1) clearly says a motorized pallet jack, is a PIT. It says nothing about having to go forwards, backwards, up, and/or down. Same logic as of never being half pregnant! To confirm to Herb, who reads SK all the time (trying to get him to speak too), How Say You? Is this a PIT?
29 CFR 1910.178(a)(1)
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-N/section-1910.178
PS This model says, "Electric Forklift" right on it. The new machine has nothing like this on it and nothing in the Operating Instructions which Herb and I went over.
Comments (18)
To me, if it is motorized, it is a PIT.
I understand it no different than you.
This comment has been removed...
No, I would think this is not a powered industrial truck because the movement of it is not motorized - only the forks. If it was a electric walkie-stacker, then it would be a Class 3 PIT (as stated on OSHA's eTool and ANSI B56.1), but since it's manually pushed/pulled, it's just a powered pallet jack. The propelling of it (how you move it around) is what has to be motorized, not the forks.
Semi-electric straddle stacker
I agree with everyone saying that they are not technically a PIT. That said, they present many of the same hazards and many aspects of a PIT program would be applicable.
My opinion it is not PIT - PIV. Good to go
Even if its not technically a PIT I personally would treat it as such and do the same training / licensing / recertification requirements as a PIT. These things can move a lot of weight and have the potential to be dangerous. Remember the OSHA standards the minimum requirements. The best companies go above and beyond the minimum requirements.
If one wants to read the standard critically, the presence of any motor on mobile material handling equipment should be considered a PIT, regardless of which plane of movement the motor controls. I think the sticking point is the word “truck.” If a “truck” is not propelled under its own power, is it a “truck?”If the intention was to exclude equipment such as this from .178, it would be worded to say “self propelled motorized pallet jack.” Is this just semantics? Yes. Is this a deficiency in the wording of the standard? Maybe. I have not read the letter of interpretation linked to this thread, I’ll do that now. Of course the most conservative and protective action would be to include the equipment in the PIT program and all that entails. Great post!!! We learn through respectful professional disagreement and discussion. I know this has refined my understanding a bit. Thanks!