Industrial Safety

Industrial Truck Safety Program

V. OPERATING RULES FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS

A. General

• A set of operating rules shall be posted and enforced. See Attachment A [PDF].
  
  
• Only qualified drivers authorized by the employer and trained in the safe operations of industrial trucks shall be permitted to operate such vehicles.
  
  
• Stunt driving and horseplay are prohibited.
  
  
• No riders shall be permitted on vehicles unless provided with adequate riding facilities.
  
  
• Employees shall not ride on the forks of lift trucks.
  
  
• The driver shall be protected from sliding loads.
  
  
• Vehicles shall not be operated on floors, sidewalk doors, or platforms that will not safely support the loaded vehicle.
  
  
• Prior to driving onto trucks and trailers their flooring shall be checked for breaks and other structural weaknesses.
  
  
• Vehicles shall not be driven in and out of trucks or trailers at loading docks until the trucks or trailers are securely blocked or restrained and the brakes are set.
  
  
• The width of one tire on the powered industrial truck shall be the minimum distance maintained from the edge by the truck while it is on any elevated dock, platform, freight car, trailer, or truck.
  
  
• Railroad tracks shall be crossed diagonally, wherever possible. Parking closer than 8 1/2 feet from the centerline of railroad tracks is prohibited.
  
  
• Trucks shall not be loaded in excess of their rated capacity.
  
  
• A loaded vehicle shall not be moved until the load is safe and secure.
  
  
• Extreme care shall be taken when tilting loads. Tilting forward with the load engaging means elevated shall be prohibited except when picking up a load. Elevated loads shall not be tilted forward except when the load is being deposited onto a storage rack or equivalent. When stacking or tiering, backward tilt shall be limited to that necessary to stabilize the load.
  
  
• The load engaging device shall be placed in such a manner that the load will be securely held or supported.
  
  
• Special precautions shall be taken in the securing and handling of loads by trucks equipped with attachments, and during the operation of these trucks after the loads have been removed.
  
  
• When powered industrial trucks are used to open and close doors, the following provisions shall be complied with:
  
  
  • A device specifically designed for opening or closing doors shall be attached to the truck.
    
    
  • The force applied by the device to the door shall be applied parallel to the direction of travel of the door.
    
    
  • The entire door opening operation shall be in full view of the operator.
    
    
  • The truck operator and other employees shall be clear of the area where the door might fall while being opened.
    
    
• If loads are lifted by two or more trucks working in unison, the total weight of the load shall not exceed the combined rated lifting capacity of all trucks involved.
  
  
• Powered industrial trucks shall not be operated in atmospheres containing more than 20 percent of the Lower Explosive Limit of flammable gas or vapor unless approved for the area. Only industrial trucks approved for the exposure may be operated in atmospheres containing hazardous quantities of combustible dusts and ignitable fibers. Approval and area designation shall be based on applicable NFPA standards with appropriate labeling. Approved trucks shall bear a permanent legible label or some other identifying mark indicating approval by the testing laboratory.
  
  
• Internal combustion engine driven equipment shall be operated inside of buildings or enclosed structures only when such operation does not result in harmful exposure to concentrations of dangerous gases or fumes.
  
  
• When industrial trucks operate in areas where general lighting is less than 2 footcandles per square foot, directional lighting shall be provided on the truck.
  
  
• Industrial trucks shall not be operated in areas that expose the operator to the hazard of collision with overhead obstructions unless the truck is equipped with overhead guards.
  
  
• Loads of excessive width, length, or height shall be so balanced, braced, and secured as to prevent tipping and falling.
  
  
• Batteries installed in trucks shall be secured in suitable racks which are secured to the truck.
  
  
• Operators shall not use cell phones while driving.
  
  
• Operators shall not use headphones while driving.
  
  
• Drivers shall comply with all university policies concerning path usage, preferred routes, bollard replacement and other safety rules.

B. Vehicle Inspection

• Operators shall check the vehicle prior to each use and document this on a Lift Truck Inspection Report form. Attention shall be given to the proper functioning of tires, horn, lights, battery, controller, brakes, steering mechanism, cooling system, and the lift system for fork lifts (forks, chains, cable, and limit switches). See Attachment B [PDF] and Attachment C [PDF].
  
  
• Industrial trucks shall be included in the weekly vehicle maintenance checks and this shall be documented on a lift truck inspection form. See Attachment D [PDF].
  
  
• If the vehicle is found to be unsafe, the operator shall immediately report the matter to a Supervisor so that the truck can be repaired. The vehicle shall not be placed in service again until it has been made safe.
  
  
• No repairs shall be performed until arrangements have been made to reduce the probability of injury to repairmen or others caused by sudden movement or operation of such equipment or its parts.

C. Operator Specific

• Employees shall not place any part of their bodies outside the running lines of an industrial truck or between the mast uprights or other parts of the truck where shear or crushing hazards exist.
  
  
• Employees shall not be allowed to stand, pass, or work under the elevated portion of an industrial truck, loaded or empty, unless it is effectively blocked to prevent it from falling.
  
  
• No truck shall be operated with a leak in the fuel system.
  
  
• Vehicles shall not exceed the authorized safe speed while always maintaining a safe 3 second following distance passing the same point.
  
  
• Operators shall observe posted speed limits on all campus roadways.
  
  
• Operators shall be familiar with and observe all established traffic laws.
  
  
• Trucks traveling in the same direction shall not be passed at intersections, blind spots, or dangerous locations.
  
  
• The driver shall slow down and sound the horn at intersections, building corners and other locations where vision is obstructed.
  
  
• If the load being carried obstructs forward view, the driver shall travel with the load trailing.
  
  
• Operators shall look in the direction of travel and shall not move a vehicle until certain that all persons are clear.
  
  
• Trucks shall not be driven up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object of such size that the person could be caught between the truck and the object.
  
  
• Grades shall be ascended or descended slowly.
  
  
• When ascending or descending steep grades in excess of 10 percent loaded trucks shall be driven with the load upgrade.
  
  
• On all grades the load and load engaging means shall be tilted back if applicable and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface.
  
  
• Motorized hand and hand/rider trucks shall be operated on all grades with the load engaging means downgrade.
  
  
• The forks shall always be carried as low as possible, consistent with safe operations.
  
  
• Operators shall not park industrial trucks in areas that would obstruct fire exits from buildings.
  
  
• When leaving a vehicle unattended (the operator is over 25 feet from or out of sight of the industrial truck) the brakes shall be set, the mast shall be brought to the vertical position, and forks shall be left in the down position, either: The power shall be shut off and when left on an incline, the wheels shall be blocked or the power may remain on provided the wheels are blocked, front and rear.
  
  
• When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and within 25 feet of the truck which remains in the operator’s view, the load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls placed in neutral, and the brakes set to prevent movement. Forks on fork equipped industrial trucks may be in the raised position for loading and unloading if the forks are raised no more than 42 inches above the level where the operator/loaders are standing, and the power is shut off, controls placed in neutral and the brakes set. If on an incline, the wheels shall be blocked.
  
  
• Vehicles shall not be run onto any elevator unless the driver is specifically authorized to do so. Before entering an elevator, the driver shall determine that the capacity of the elevator will not be exceeded. Once on an elevator, the industrial truck’s power shall be shut off and the brakes set.
  
  
• Motorized hand trucks shall enter elevators or other confined areas with the load end forward.
  
  
• The driver shall keep the truck under positive control at all times while observing all established traffic regulations.

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