What employers need to know about certification gaps, liability risks, and how to improve safety without slowing operations.
Forklift operators are the backbone of many warehouse and industrial operations — but when it comes to training, many companies assume that their in-house process checks all the boxes.
Here’s the truth: most in-house forklift training programs fall short of OSHA standards in ways that are easy to overlook — but costly to ignore.
If your team is still handling Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) training internally, here are four reasons why that could be putting your people and your bottom line at risk.
- Not All “Training” Is OSHA-Compliant
Just walking a new hire through a few procedures or letting them shadow another operator does not count as proper training under OSHA’s standard 1910.178.
OSHA requires:
- Formal instruction (e.g., lectures, videos, written material)
- Practical training (demonstrations and exercises)
- An evaluation of the operator’s performance in the actual workplace
If any of these steps are skipped or rushed, your business could be out of compliance — and liable.
- Inconsistency Creates Risk
When training is handled informally — or varies between supervisors or shifts — you end up with a workforce that’s unevenly prepared. That inconsistency leads to:
- More accidents and near misses
- Equipment damage
- Reduced productivity
- Higher turnover
Worse, it becomes nearly impossible to prove that your team was trained properly if OSHA ever comes knocking.
- Internal Teams Aren’t Always Certified to Train
Unless your internal trainer holds valid OSHA certification to instruct PIT operators, the training they provide might not be legally defensible in the event of an injury or inspection.
Too often, companies rely on well-meaning supervisors who have experience — but not credentials — to train others. That’s not enough to meet OSHA standards or reduce your liability.
- Time Constraints Hurt Quality
Even the most capable in-house teams often struggle to balance training with day-to-day operations. When productivity is on the line, training tends to be rushed, delayed, or skipped altogether.
That’s how corner-cutting becomes a culture — and how safety issues escalate.
The Smarter Alternative: LSI Staffing’s PIT Crew Program
At LSI Staffing, we built PIT Crew to solve all of these problems — without slowing down your operation.
We offer:
- OSHA-compliant forklift operators ready to work from day one
- Custom on-site certification through our 1:1 PIT Crew program, designed around your equipment, layout, and production schedule
- Post-placement support and ongoing validation to ensure continued compliance
Whether you need to fill a shift or build a safer, more consistent training pipeline, PIT Crew delivers operators who are skilled, safe, and job-ready.
Let us help you elevate your forklift training, reduce your risk, and build a stronger warehouse team.
📞 Call: 316-262-0162