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Perhaps the most critical operational element for Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs) is capacity and stability. In fact, it’s the basic reason most PITs exist. But it can be a hard concept to grasp and explain to workers.
Most PITs work on essentially the same principle as a teeter-totter — the weight of the load on the forks must be counterbalanced by the weight of the truck body. The load weight that each lift can handle can be found on the nameplate, also known as a data plate, capacity plate, or ID plate. The nameplate will state the capacity of the lift — in other words, the manufacturer’s guideline for how much weight can be safely lifted.
The capacity data on the nameplate is critical information, but it was calculated using a load with a specific load center, commonly 24 inches. So, unless every load an operator lifts has a load center of 24 inches — or whatever load center the truck was rated at — and is placed perfectly on the forks, employers have to remember that the actual capacity will be reduced. The same thing goes for attachments — which also typically reduce capacity.
Stability training
Trainers need to have a thorough understanding of load composition and impart it to operators. Trainers must be thoroughly familiar with concepts such as:
Perhaps the most critical operational element for Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs) is capacity and stability. In fact, it’s the basic reason most PITs exist. But it can be a hard concept to grasp and explain to workers.
Most PITs work on essentially the same principle as a teeter-totter — the weight of the load on the forks must be counterbalanced by the weight of the truck body. The load weight that each lift can handle can be found on the nameplate, also known as a data plate, capacity plate, or ID plate. The nameplate will state the capacity of the lift — in other words, the manufacturer’s guideline for how much weight can be safely lifted.
The capacity data on the nameplate is critical information, but it was calculated using a load with a specific load center, commonly 24 inches. So, unless every load an operator lifts has a load center of 24 inches — or whatever load center the truck was rated at — and is placed perfectly on the forks, employers have to remember that the actual capacity will be reduced. The same thing goes for attachments — which also typically reduce capacity.
Stability training
Trainers need to have a thorough understanding of load composition and impart it to operators. Trainers must be thoroughly familiar with concepts such as: