Applicable Regulations for Vehicle Collision Hazards

When it comes to worker protection from vehicle collision hazards and transportation-related incidents, employers must comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, as follows:

• Title 23 - Highways
• Title 49 - Transportation

An agency within DOT, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) develops and enforces regulations intended to increase the safety of commercial motor vehicles, such as large trucks and buses. The major provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that address safety issues relevant to the oil and gas extraction industry include the following:

• General federal motor carrier safety regulations (49 CFR 390)
• Qualifications of drivers and longer combination vehicle (LCV) driver instructions (49 CFR 391)
• Driving of commercial motor vehicles (49 CFR 392) - The especially relevant sub-sections include the following:
  • Ill or fatigued operator (49 CFR 392.3)
  • Hazardous conditions; extreme caution (49 CFR 392.14)
  • Use of seat belts (49 CFR 392.16)
• Parts and accessories necessary for safe operation (49 CFR 393)
• Hours of service of drivers (49 CFR 395)
• Inspection, repair, and maintenance (49 CFR 396)
• Employee safety and health standards (49 CFR 399)

OSHA oversees off-highway loading and unloading. In some cases, OSHA General Industry standards (29 CFR 1910) apply to truckers and other vehicle operators. However, OSHA is preempted by Section 4(b)1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act) from enforcing its regulations if the working condition is regulated by another federal agency.

To learn more about Oil & Gas Extraction visit our Oil & Gas Extraction Safety Online Training web page.