• Any PIT modifications or attachments must be approved by the manufacturer and comply with OSHA requirements.

When it comes to making modifications to forklifts or other Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is stringent. OSHA requires that employers obtain the manufacturer’s prior written approval for modifications or additions that “affect capacity and safe operation.” OSHA has interpreted this provision broadly to include most lifting attachments, as well as manbaskets.

When these changes are allowed, capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals must be changed accordingly.

Front-end attachments

If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, employers must request the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered.

Other provisions

OSHA also has a couple of other “hidden” provisions that pertain to altering PITs. (“Hidden” in that they are in a separate section of the regulation than the modification/attachment section.)

OSHA requires that all parts be replaced only by parts equivalent as to safety with those used in the original design.

OSHA also requires that PITs are not altered so that the “relative positions” of the parts are different from what they were when originally received from the manufacturer. They must not be altered either by the addition of extra parts not provided by the manufacturer or by the elimination of any parts.

When in doubt, ask

When an employer or employee has questions about adding or replacing parts, it’s best to check with the equipment manufacturer or OSHA local area office, to be on the safe side. There are many variables that can come into play, and that may not be obvious at first glance. For example, the addition of an after-market hours meter may seem (and may well be) perfectly harmless, but if the truck has been rated to operate in certain explosive/hazardous locations, the installation could potentially negate that rating if the meter isn’t up to the same standards.