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Sample Daily Checklists for Powered Industrial Trucks. Prepared by OSHA and the Industrial Trucking Association (ITA) Alliance. OSHA notes that this checklist and related graphics were developed in cooperation with the ITA as part of the OSHA-ITA Alliance.

Sample Daily Checklists for Powered Industrial Trucks. Prepared by the UAW-Ford National Joint Committee on Health and Safety. OSHA thanks the UAW-Ford National Joint Committee on Health and Safety for granting permission to use the checklists and related graphics.

Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (September 30, 2003). Informs employers that youth employment regulations (29 CFR 570) promulgated under the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibit most employees under the age of 18 years from operating forklifts for non-agricultural operations and reminds employers that all forklift operators must be trained and certified.

Related Topics

Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklift). OSHA eTool. Provides information on OSHA's Powered Industrial Truck requirements [29 CFR 1910.178] and industry best practices.

Forklift mechanics are exposed to a variety of hazardous materials. Chemicals pose a wide range of health hazards, such as irritation, sensitization, and carcinogenicity, and physical hazards, such as flammability, corrosion, and reactivity. Forklift operators, often perform some of their own maintenance, such as refueling diesel or gasoline powered trucks, changing propane tanks on LPG trucks, or recharging and servicing electric batteries on electric forklifts. They may also change oil, antifreeze, or other fluids, and therefore, are exposed to a variety of hazardous chemicals. The following is an overview of the regulations, training requirements, and other resources related to maintenance of powered industrial trucks:

• OSHA Compliance
  
  
• General Hazard References

OSHA Compliance

All general industry standards apply to workers performing maintenance on powered industrial trucks.

OSHA Standards

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks. Note the following sections:
  • 1910.178(g), Changing and charging storage batteries
  • 1910.178(f), Fuel handling and storage
  • 1910.178(q), Maintenance of industrial trucks

OSHA Directives: Instructions to OSHA staff

• The Control of Hazardous Energy – Enforcement Policy and Inspection Procedures. CPL 02-00-147 (February 11, 2008). Cancels OSHA Instruction, STD 01-05-019 (STD 1-7.3) 29 CFR 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) -- Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance, September 11, 1990; and its interpretations.
  
  
• Compliance Assistance for the Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Standards. CPL 02-01-028 (CPL 2-1.28A) (November 30, 2000).
  
  
• 29 CFR 1910.151(c), Medical Services and First Aid; 29 CFR 1926.50 and .51, Medical Service and First Aid, and ... STD 01-08-002 (STD 1-8.2) (March 8, 1982). Provides guidelines regarding eye wash and body-flushing facilities required for immediate emergency use in electric-storage battery charging and maintenance areas.
  
  
• 29 CFR 1910.178(g)(2); Battery Charging Stations for Fork Lifts and Other Industrial Trucks. STD 01-11-004 (STD 1-11.4) (October 30, 1978). Clarifies 29 CFR 1910.178(g)(2) as it applies to battery charging areas where power industrial truck batteries are charged only.
  
  
• Search all available directives for powered industrial trucks.

OSHA Enforcement Standard Interpretations

• Application of asbestos standard's brake and clutch repair provisions (September 13, 1999). Provides guidance on the repair of brakes and the applicability of 29 CFR 1910.1001(f)(3).
  
  
• Use of battery power operated cleaning equipment in hazardous locations (October 12, 1993). Clarifies that OSHA has determined that battery-power-operated cleaning (sweeper/scrubber) equipment is not regulated under 29 CFR 1910.178.
  
  
• Regulations for machine shop and press room safety (September 11, 1984). Provides general guidance for operating a machine shop and press room and the applicable standards.
  
  
• Definition of the phrase "Adequate ventilation" as used in 1910.178 (January 26, 1976). Indicates a "typical exhaust fan" could meet this requirement if the concentrations of the hydrogen gas in the fan's ambient air never exceeded the lower explosive limit.
  
  
• Servicing Single-Piece and Multi-Piece Rim Wheels. OSHA Publication 3086 (1998). Also available as a 443 KB PDF, 29 pages.
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations for powered industrial trucks.

Training Requirements

• 29 CFR 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks. OSHA Standard. Includes specific training requirements for forklift operators who change and charge batteries, handle propane tanks, fuel diesel or gasoline engines, and otherwise repair and maintain powered industrial trucks.

General Hazard References

• For additional information, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
  • Compressed Gas and Equipment
  • Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
  • Electrical
  • Fire Safety
  • Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
  • Machine Guarding
  • Occupational Health Professionals
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Ventilation
  • Walking/Working Surfaces
  • Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

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