Engineering Controls - Seatbelts, Levers, Fenders, ROPS, Trip Handles, and Mud Flaps

Engineering controls protect workers from backover accidents. Some examples are as follows:

• All motor vehicles must have seat belts and anchorages meeting the requirements of 49 CFR Part 571 of the Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Seat belts for agricultural and light industrial tractors must meet the seat belt requirements of Society of Automotive Engineers J333a-1970, Operator Protection for Agricultural and Light Industrial Tractors.
• Operating levers controlling hoisting or dumping devices on haulage bodies must have a latch or other device that will prevent accidental starting or tripping of the mechanism.
• All rubber-tired motor vehicle equipment manufactured on or after May 1, 1972, must have fenders. All rubber-tired motor vehicle equipment manufactured before May 1, 1972, must have fenders not later than May 1, 1973. Pneumatic-tired, earth-moving haulage equipment whose maximum speed exceeds 15 miles per hour must have fenders on all wheels. An employer may, at any time, seek to show under 1926.2 that the uncovered wheels present no hazard to personnel from flying materials.
• Trip handles for tailgates of dump trucks must be arranged so that, in dumping, the operator will be in the clear.
• Mud flaps may be used in lieu of fenders whenever motor vehicle equipment is not designed for fenders.

To learn more about Backover Safety visit our Construction Backover Safety Online Training web page.