Industrial Safety

Industrial Truck Safety Program

VII. DESIGN

• All name plates and model number, type designation and load capacity markings shall be maintained in a legible condition.
  
  
• The rated capacity shall be displayed at all times on the industrial lift trucks in such a manner that it is readily visible to the operator.
  
  
• Industrial trucks shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the applicable standards specified in Title 8 Section §3650 (a) (b) and Section §3663.
  
  
• If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, the truck shall be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination, and the capacity of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation of the load engaging means with the load laterally centered.
  
  
• Major modifications and structural changes to high lift trucks, industrial trucks, and rider trucks that affect the capacity and safe handling of the vehicles shall not be performed by the employer or user without prior written approval from the manufacturer unless the modification is designed, manufactured, and installed in accordance with recognized good engineering and manufacturing principles. The capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates shall be changed accordingly.
  
  
• Industrial trucks originally approved for the use of gasoline for fuel may be converted to liquefied petroleum gas fuel provided the complete conversion results in a truck which embodies the features specified for LP or LPS designated trucks as defined by NFPA. Such conversion equipment shall be approved. When a conversion kit is installed, the original type designation shall be removed or obliterated and replaced with a durable, corrosion-resistant plate permanently mounted on the truck indicating the type designation of the converted truck.
  
  
• Industrial trucks shall be equipped with brakes or other effective devices adequate to bring the vehicle to a complete safe stop while fully loaded.
  
  
• Industrial trucks shall be equipped with a parking brake or other effective device to prevent the vehicle from moving when unattended.
  
  
• Industrial trucks, except those guided by or controlled by a walking operator, shall be equipped with a warning horn, whistle, gong, or other device which can be heard clearly above the normal industrial noises in the places of employment.
  
  
• Motorized hand and hand/rider trucks shall be designed so that the brakes are applied and the power to the drive motor shut off when the operator releases his grip on the control tongue, or the device used to control travel. Vehicles designed for use in order picking operations are exempt from the braking requirements, provided the speed of the vehicle does not exceed 3.5 mph while the operator is walking the vehicle.
  
  
• Radio remote control vehicles shall be equipped with positive means which restrict the speed of the vehicle to 3.5 mph while the equipment is being operated with radio remote control.
  
  
• Steering knobs shall not be used unless the truck is equipped with power steering.
  
  
• Counterweights shall be so affixed that they cannot be accidentally dislodged.
  
  
• Forks, fork extensions, and other attachments shall be secured so that they cannot be inadvertently dislodged, and shall be used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  
  
• Seat belt assemblies shall be provided on all equipment where rollover protection is installed and employees shall be instructed in their use.
  
  
• Where vehicles are equipped with rollover protective structures and are subjected to the hazard of falling trees, brush, or the breaking of tow lines or winch cables, provision shall be made to protect against such hazards by means of: shear or brush deflector guards extending from the leading edge of the ROPS to the front part of the frame of the vehicle or radiator guard or equivalent operator protection, or breaking line guards consisting of adequately supported 1/4 inch woven wire screens having not less than 1/2 inch not more than 2 inch mesh (or equivalent) shall be located between the lines and the operator.
  
  
• Every high lift rider truck shall be fitted with an overhead guard unless the vertical movement of the lifting mechanism is restricted to a maximum elevation of 72” or the truck will operate in an area where the bottom of the top tiered load is not higher than 72” and the top is not more than 120” from the ground when tiered and the operator is protected from all overhead hazards other than falling loads.