Powered Industrial Truck Update Presented by Courtney W. Bohannon Jackson Area Office - OSHA

Disclaimer This presentation is intended as a resource for providing training on OSHA’s revised powered industrial truck operator standards. It is not a substitute for any of the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, or for any standards issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It is also not a substitute for a powered industrial truck operator training program.

What is a Powered Industrial Truck? Any mobile power-propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack or tier materials Earth moving and over the road haulage trucks are not included in the definition

Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Each Year about 100 workers are killed and almost 9,500 injured in industrial truck accidents. Providing the proper training for the drivers will help reduce that toll.

Operator Selection The employer must ensure that the employee is competent to operate a powered industrial truck, as demonstrated by successful completion of a training program and evaluation.

Training Program Formal Training Practical Training Evaluation of operators performance in the workplace Formal - Computer based, video, classroom… Practical - Obstacle course

Sample Manufacturers Warnings & Precautions ALWAYS adjust the seat and fasten the seat belt securely before you start the engine. DO NOT allow anyone to ride on the forklift with the operator. DO NOT use this forklift as a manlift or work platform. DO NOT allow anyone on the forklift carriage

Periodic Evaluation & Refresher Training Sufficient evaluation and refresher training must be conducted to enable the employee to retain and use the knowledge and skills needed to operate the powered industrial truck safely. An evaluation of each operators performance must be conducted at least every three years.

Refresher Training is Required if: Changes in the workplace that could affect the safe operation of the truck Operator is assigned to a different type of truck.

Refresher Training is Required if: Operator observed operating vehicle in an unsafe manner. Evaluation determined operator needs additional training.

Refresher Training is Required if: Operator is involved in an accident. Operator is involved in a near miss incident.

Avoiding Duplicative Training An employee who has received training and has been found by an evaluation to be competent to perform the duties of an operator safely does not have to be retrained at specified intervals. However all new operators must have their performance evaluated.

Certification The employer must certify that the training and evaluation has been done.

Fatality Operator attempted elevated 4 employees including a foreman to the roof. Forklift malfunctioned and boom started to retract. 2 employees attempted to jumped to the roof, 2 decided to ride the load to the ground. Only 1 employee was successful in his attempt to jump to the roof. Operator was not trained in safe operation of forklift. Manufacturer does not allow forklift to be use to elevate personnel.

Fatality Operator standing on sideboard while backing forklift onto lowboy trailer. The operator drove forklift off side of trailer. The operator died after being pinned under ROP. Operator received training. Operator was not wearing seatbelt. Operator was not operating forklift in a safe manner. Operator was directed only to move lift to dock, not to load onto lowboy.

Fatality Operator attempted to load a forklift onto a the trailer. The rear wheels were partially off the trailer, so foreman decided to use another forklift to support the wheels. The operator drove the forklift off the trailer and was killed. 1st time employee attempted to load trailer. Operator was not wearing seatbelt.

Fatality ~2AM on the 3rd shift, a forklift operator using a forklift to move lumber, ran over an employee. The forklift was backing up at the time of the accident. Forklift was equipped with a backup alarm, strobe light, driving lights. Operator had received annual training Victim was struck while standing in of one several forklift blind spots.

Fatality Tractor operator attempting to climb steep slope turned tractor over. Operator was not wearing seatbelt. The seatbelt had been defective for ~6months prior to the accident.

Fatality Operator moving baskets when he ran into a steel column. The column fell and struck the operator. The forklift was not equipped with overhead protection.

Fatality Operator was stacking cardboard boxes, approximately four boxes high. Operator was repositioning forklift when a stack of boxes fell on top of an employee.

Fatality The operator of a standup pallet jack was backing up into to a battery charging station. The brakes on the lift failed, and the operator was crushed between the charging rack and the lift. An employee had welded something to the steering column which shorted the inside wiring. The repair work was not approved by manufacturer.

Fatality The operator was attempting to move a bale of cotton from the warehouse in which it was stored (bales were stacked approximately 20 feet high). The operator positioned the forklift & raised the clamps to retrieve the cotton. The operator was standing along side of the lift, when a bale of cotton fell, knocking over two other bales cotton. The bales of cotton struck the operator, who died as a result of his injuries.

Reporting Requirements Fatalities must reported within 8 hours. Catastrophe - When three or more employees are admitted to the hospital. Reports may be filed by calling: 601-965-4606 1-800-321-OSHA Report all work related fatalities to either the local area OSHA office or the 1-800 number above.

Failure to Report. Failure to report a fatality or catastrophe can result in a $7000.00 fine.

Education and training without follow-up and enforcement, is Wrapping It Up Education and training without follow-up and enforcement, is INEFFECTIVE