Regulations

OSHA issues and maintains CFR 1910.178(a), the federal regulation that outlines safety requirements relating to forklifts and other powered industrial trucks, including their use, design, and maintenance. CFR 1910.178(a) covers the following types of vehicles, generally referred to as forklifts, fork trucks, or powered industrial trucks (PITs):

• Tractors
• Platform lift trucks
• Motorized hand trucks
• Other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines

CFR 1910.178(a) does not apply to compressed air or nonflammable compressed gas-operated industrial trucks, farm vehicles, or vehicles intended primarily for earth moving or over-the-road hauling.

The complete text of the regulation is available online on OSHA's website.

In addition, 28 states have OSHA-approved state plans, which are required to have standards and enforcement programs as effective as OSHA's. State plan information is available on OSHA's website.

This course will familiarize you with some of the OSHA regulations, responsibilities, and best practices as outlined in the CFR 1910.178(a) requirements for forklift operators and forklift maintenance. Keep in mind that your skill in operating a forklift protects not only your well-being but the well-being of the people you work with and the safety of the environments you work in. Your forklift skills can prevent costly material damage, life-altering injuries, and even death.

Employers must make sure that new PITs meet the design and construction requirements established in the American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969. Approved trucks must display a label, nameplate, or other identifying mark indicating such approval.

Any modification to a PIT that affect its capacity and safe operation requires the prior written approval of the PIT manufacturer. Furthermore, nameplates or data labels on the truck that describe the PIT's capacity, operation, and instructions for maintenance must be updated accordingly.

For example, if the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory-installed attachments, the truck must be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered. It is the employer's responsibility to make sure that all such signage and labels are in place and easy to read.

Remember that nameplates and other displays that indicate a PIT's approved design, construction, and modification are important safety measures for the benefit of everyone who works with and around such vehicles. Checking the nameplate every time you operate a PIT is your responsibility.

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