Removal from service
- Any safety issues identified during a daily inspection must be fixed before a Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) is operated again.
Once an inspection has been conducted, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expects employers to fix safety issues before allowing operation. But what constitutes something severe enough to require the equipment be taken out of service?
In OSHA’s standards, there are a few very specific conditions that warrant immediate removal of equipment from service. These include:
- Hazardous sparks from the exhaust,
- Excess operating temperatures, and
- Leaky fuel systems.
In addition, there is also a general provision to remove “unsafe” equipment. OSHA has said they will take a variety of factors into consideration when making the determination as to whether a truck is unsafe. But, at the least, any item that could present harm or risk would need to be taken out of service.
Items that could constitute unsafe conditions include:
- Improperly functioning gauges,
- Broken welds,
- Missing bolts,
- Damage to the overhead guard, and
- Tires missing large pieces of rubber.