Basic Forklift Safety Devices

Manufacturers of forklifts and PITs equip their vehicles with various safety devices. You need to understand which devices are available on the vehicles you operate. These include seat belts and similar restraints, horns, back-up (reverse driving) alarms, fire extinguishers, warning lights that flash, directional signals, brake lights, and mirrors.

By regulation, every PIT should be equipped with an operator-controlled horn, whistle, gong, or other sound-producing device.

In addition, when forklifts and PITs are equipped with seat belts or other operator restraint devices, employers are obligated by OSHA to require operators to use them.

High-lift rider trucks shall be fitted with an overhead guard manufactured in accordance with the design and construction requirements for powered industrial trucks established in the American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969, unless operating conditions do not permit. If the type of load presents a hazard, the employer shall equip fork trucks with a vertical load backrest extension manufactured in accordance with the same.

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