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Post Info TOPIC: PIT training?


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PIT training?
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Just curious about how I would go about getting PIT (Powered Industrial Truck) certified so I can actually stack pallets properly in back without hurting myself if I should do something wrong (which is usually never, but better safe then sorry.) Only reasons I ask is so I don't have to stack up to my chest / neck level with pallets I'm sliding onto the stack being near my head level. I would rather do it the safe way and use the straddle stacker to make big piles out of tiny ones as that's what it is for instead of just strength and leather closed gloves, plus doing them 1 by 1 takes a lot longer then just using the PIT. At my old warehouse job, I operated an electric pallet stacker at my station that was this model (electric tho vs the manual one here) for doing piece rate so I am not shy about using PITs as I had to use them in my warehouse job.

It also would help so that way I don't have to hunt down someone to move the dang thing if someone parks it idiotically (like right near the compactor entry way or just sitting right in the middle of the stock room floor doing nothing) as all employees by all contracts are restricted from operating a PIT for any conceivable reason without being PIT certified, even to just move it out of the way an inch or so. (Almost happened once when I was running garbage as I had to navigate around it since I'm not allowed to move it out of the way)

Anyone have any thoughts on this? 



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Anonymous

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Are you 18 or older?

Are you able to steer the manual pallet jacks without hitting everything in sight?

If you said yes to both, then you should ask your store manager for training and permission to use the power machinery.

First, you will take 2 or 3 ACT online tests.  Then, the store manager or a department manager might ask you to show them that you know how to use the machines safely.

Pay attention to the training lesson on ACT when they discuss how to travel with it.  Never run over yourself with the machines.  They both weigh about 2 tons(4000 pounds).  Very dangerous and not worth being crippled for life.  Always turn key off or unplug when not in use.  Our straddle stacker had a short during the winter.  If it was left on while parked under something, the something would be lifted to the ceiling when we came back.

With the power jack, when you first start using it, put it on turtle speed until you get used to the quirks of it.  Many machines are worn out and do funny stuff when you don't want it to.  Get used to it(steering and stopping) for 2 weeks to a month on turtle.  Then, go to fast speed when you believe you have the hang of it.  Always use slow speed when going thru glass doorways inside the store.

With the pallet stacker(straddle stacker).  NEVER take it inside a trailer.  They have a low floor clearance and sometimes get stuck on the ramps.  If you try to go up while in the trailer, it will punch holes in the roof of the trailer.  I once saw a trailer that had two patches the exact distance as the straddle stacker mast.   I knew exactly where they came from.  There are ways and reasons to use it in the trailer but should not be done unless you are 200% absolutely sure you know what you are doing.  Easier to never try using it inside trailer.  Also, the forks have to be almost all the way down to pass thru door ways.  Always check where the mast is when going thru low door ways.  There is a turtle speed on it but you have to hold a button down for that speed.  Ask someone how to use it in slow speed.  I have never figured out how ours goes in slow speed.  I think the button is broken.

Stacking and moving pallet stacks are good practice for the machines.

If you have bottle returns:

Plastic bottles -  light weight

Aluminum cans- medium weight

Glass bottles- Heavy weight.

Glass is always on the bottom.  Only put the lighter items on top when stacking the bins.

 



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Anonymous

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Also,

NEVER double stack full pallets of water.  I have heard of people being killed when they fall over.



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so true....

I think it even happened at a Kroger somewhere when a pallet of water was placed in the back room beams w/o being properly shrink wrapped and a worker was strutting on thru when a 24 pack fell off and hit the poor lady in the noggin knocking her dead on the spot!  you gotta be real careful when stacking stuff fer sure



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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger!  Can you say "Hallelujah"  



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Here's an article i found about it.
www.ibj.com/articles/21997-family-of-woman-killed-by-falling-bottled-water-pallets-files-suit

My store manager about had a fit one day when she saw two skids of water stacked on top of each other. That is a huge no no now after this accident happened, they should never be stacked like that.

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Thanks guys for the responses. I'll reply to them here.

First off, yes to both being over 18 and I'm very skilled with a manual jack as I'm no stranger to these from the warehouse jobs I have had.

We are actually restricted by Corporate (different then Kroger, but reports to Kroger) from having all Staff (including management) and vendors taking any pallets or jacks onto the sales floor after 9am - (i think) 11pm. Apparently in our Union Contract it states that if a power jack is to be on the floor, it must have a minimum of two people with it (operator and spotter) and must have prior Manager On Duty or the Store Director's authorization with explanation. According to what Corpo says (apparently) from the signs management put on the doors and in back, power jacks are never to be on the sales floor at any time the store is in an "open" state (customers inside)

I am not referring to stacking pallets with products (as that is outside my contract), but actual empty pallets and pallet stacks themselves (within my UC contract). Glass an bottle returns are no concern here as we don't run them, only recycling and that's just tied n thrown on top of our cardboard bales. 

Good note to remember about the water, thanks. I will definitely keep that in the back of my mind, nonetheless. 



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Anonymous

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working for amazon for a stint - they are VERY safety conscience - they say to stack pallets only 10 high and use two people and wear gloves. never lean a pallet up against a wall or on one of it's sides.  that might be a OSHA violation even



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UC151 wrote:

Thanks guys for the responses. I'll reply to them here.

First off, yes to both being over 18 and I'm very skilled with a manual jack as I'm no stranger to these from the warehouse jobs I have had.

We are actually restricted by Corporate (different then Kroger, but reports to Kroger) from having all Staff (including management) and vendors taking any pallets or jacks onto the sales floor after 9am - (i think) 11pm. Apparently in our Union Contract it states that if a power jack is to be on the floor, it must have a minimum of two people with it (operator and spotter) and must have prior Manager On Duty or the Store Director's authorization with explanation. According to what Corpo says (apparently) from the signs management put on the doors and in back, power jacks are never to be on the sales floor at any time the store is in an "open" state (customers inside)

I am not referring to stacking pallets with products (as that is outside my contract), but actual empty pallets and pallet stacks themselves (within my UC contract). Glass an bottle returns are no concern here as we don't run them, only recycling and that's just tied n thrown on top of our cardboard bales. 

Good note to remember about the water, thanks. I will definitely keep that in the back of my mind, nonetheless. 


 i use power jack all the time and the stacker just use it every chance u get took me like a week to get good at it now im skilled lol



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Same here, just use it. Not gonna hurt anybody's feelings having one more person around capable of racking pallets and unloading trucks

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GraveDigger wrote:

Same here, just use it. Not gonna hurt anybody's feelings having one more person around capable of racking pallets and unloading trucks


 My management team and Corpo think otherwise, based on my contract. 

 

Thanks for the responses guy, will see if I am able to talk to either my Store Director or SOM / ACSM about it n get the training in. 



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